India at this hour:
- India Moves To Acquire 114 Rafale Jets
- Sonam Wangchuk Signals Another Hunger Strike
- J&K To Set Up Rehabilitation Centres For Drug Addicts


India Moves To Acquire 114 Rafale Jets | Sonam Wangchuk Signals Another Hunger Strike

NATO intercepted Russian strategic bombers and fighter jets that flew over the Baltic Sea, a muscular display of air power on the alliance’s eastern flank away from the spotlight on the Middle East.
French Rafale fighters were deployed from a Lithuanian air base where they are stationed as part of a decades-long NATO air-policing effort.


Russian TU-22M3 Bombers Buzz NATO Airspace

Breaking: Russia Deploys Nuclear Bombers at NATO Doorstep

India’s Rafale fighter jet program is receiving a significant indigenous boost, deepening the country’s defense manufacturing capabilities under the Make in India initiative. The advanced Dassault Rafale fleet will now see greater local production of critical systems, marking a strategic shift from buyer to co-producer. In a major development, the precision-guided Hammer missile will be manufactured locally in partnership with Bharat Electronics Limited, strengthening India’s domestic missile ecosystem. 


India Strengthens Rafale Program With Major Made-In-India Push

India’s Rafale ecosystem is set for a domestic manufacturing boost, with HAMMER missiles to be produced locally in partnership with Bharat Electronics. The move signals a significant step in expanding indigenous defence production linked to Rafale weapons capability.


Rafale Deal Boost: HAMMER Missiles To Be Made In India With Bharat Electronics | WION 

Macron's 4th India Visit: PM Modi, French President Inaugurate Helicopter Assembly Line
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurate the India-France Innovation Forum in Mumbai.

Macron's 4th India Visit: PM Modi, French President Inaugurate Helicopter Assembly Line

On February 13, 2026, India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved the purchase of 288 additional S-400 surface-to-air missiles from Russia for approximately ₹10,000 crore. This follows the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets and aims to bolster air defense, replenish stocks used during 2025's Operation Sindoor, and secure, with 120 short-range and 168 long-range missiles to be acquired under the Fast Track Procedure.


Report: After Rafales, India to Buy S400 Missiles From Russia

Indian government is reportedly set to approve a massive ₹3.25 lakh crore deal for 114 Rafale fighter jets. This comes as French President Macron is visiting India. After the precision strikes of Operation Sindoor, the IAF is also fast-tracking a major order for SCALP cruise missiles and Meteor air-to-air missiles. We break down the technical details of the deal, the 'Make in India' deal, and how this gives India total air dominance over its rivals.


India Arms Rafales With SCALP Missiles, IAF Gets Deadly Long-Range Strike Boost

SCALP cruise missiles deliver long-range precision strikes to the Indian Air Force, while Meteor BVRAAMs transform Rafales into dominant air superiority hunters.


India Arms Rafales With Scalp Meteor Missile to Boost Air Dominance

Rafale Revolution: SCALP & Meteor Redefine IAF Power

The Indian Air Force has integrated SCALP (Storm Shadow) cruise missiles and Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles into its Rafale fleet, significantly enhancing long-range precision strike and air superiority capabilities.



Scalp Missiles Brings Long-range Precision to IAF, Meteor Missiles Turns Rafales Into Hunters

India's Defence Procurement Board (DPB) approved the Indian Air Force's (IAF) proposal to acquire 114 additional Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation on January 16, 2026, addressing squadron shortages amid border tensions.

Defence Procurement Board Approves Iaf's Proposal to Acquire Rafale Jets: Reports

Pakistan's propaganda stands exposed once again. Struggling to create a perception that its military is better than India's, the Pakistani media didn't hold back from using fake news to claim that the May conflict reflected their air superiority. The French Navy trashed their article, leaving their bosses in Islamabad's power circles red-faced once again.


France: Pak Media Report About Rafale Riddled With Misinformation

French Navy Slams Pak Media Report, Calls It 'Fake News Riddled With Misinformation'

The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu took a sortie in a Rafale aircraft at Air Force Station, Ambala (Haryana) today (October 29, 2025). She is the first President of India to have taken sortie in two fighter aircrafts of the Indian Air Force. Earlier, she  took a sortie in Sukhoi 30 MKI in 2023.

President Murmu Takes Sortie in Rafale Fighter Jet 

President Droupadi Murmu undertook a sortie in a Rafale fighter jet from the Air Force Station in Haryana’s Ambala.


Rafale Jet Historic Moment: President Murmu Takes Off, Calls It 'Unforgettable' Experience

Mid-air refuelling lets fighter jets stay in the air longer without landing. This is vital in combat or long missions. Through specialised equipment, tankers transfer fuel mid-flight to fighter jets. Here are six fighters known to use mid-air refuelling to enhance their endurance.

6 fighter jets capable of mid-air refueling

Modern fighter jets integrate these facilities to enhance human performance, allowing pilots to operate effectively under extreme conditions.

Top 7 fighter jet features that turn pilots into real-life superhumans

Dassault Aviation is a French aerospace giant known for building some of the world’s most advanced warplanes. While the Rafale is its star, Dassault’s line-up includes legendary fighters, bombers, business jets, and futuristic drones.

From Rafale fighter to Falcon private jets, what else has Dassault Aviation built? (See in pics)

India-France defence ties in 2025 are about much more than Rafale jets. From joint naval drills to space satellites and advanced tech sharing, this partnership is now a pillar of India’s security and self-reliance.


'From Rafale to satellites': 6 key India-France alliances that make them one of most trusted allies

After the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7. The operation hit terror camps in Pakistan and PoJK. Here are the 5 key weapons that gave India a strong and precise advantage in the battle.

Operation Sindoor: How Indian air strikes changed Pakistan's Nur Khan airbase (Check out pics)

The shares jumped after the Indian Air Force launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, a precision strike aimed at terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan. India news pakistan

Rafale maker Dassault Aviation stock upswings after PM Modi's stern message to Pakistan with S-400 in backdrop

One of the primary lessons from the Mirage 2000 was the complexity and cost associated with its maintenance. The Rafale was designed with a focus on ease of maintenance, incorporating features such as modular components and advanced diagnostic systems.

Operation Sindoor: How the Mirage 2000’s flaws helped Dassault build the Rafale fighter jet

The Rafale is a twin-engine, 4.5-generation "omni-role" fighter capable of executing multiple missions in a single sortie. Its design incorporates a delta wing with close-coupled canards, providing exceptional agility and manoeuvrability. The aircraft boasts a top speed of Mach 1.8 and a service ceiling of 50,000 feet. In contrast, the JF-17 is a single-engine, lightweight fighter with a top speed of Mach 1.6 and a service ceiling of approximately 54,000 feet. While the JF-17's ceiling is slightly higher, the Rafale's superior thrust-to-weight ratio and aerodynamic design offer better performance in dogfight scenarios. 

Operation Sindoor: Why India's Rafale will humiliate Pakistan’s JF-17 in an aerial dogfight?

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