India moves to expand Rafale fleet instead of selecting Saab’s Gripen

India is expected to expand its fleet of French-built Rafale fighter jets rather than select Sweden’s Gripen, according to Dagens industri.

A final agreement between New Delhi and Paris, potentially covering more than 100 Rafale aircraft from Dassault Aviation, is reported to be close after India’s defence acquisition council approved the proposed deal. 

Indian media have separately referred to a requirement for 114 additional fighters, although final numbers have not been formally confirmed.

Saab chief executive Micael Johansson, speaking in New Delhi during the AI Action Summit, told Dagens industri the development was anticipated.

- It is not a surprise, he said.

Manufacturing

Saab has participated in the procurement process and offered to manufacture the Gripen E in India, including the creation of an industrial hub encompassing local production, employment and technology transfer.

Johansson stressed that the company is not withdrawing from the Indian market.

- We have long explained what our offer entails and that we are prepared to establish a hub in India should Gripen be selected as a complement to other platforms, he said.

Saab already operates in India and is building a facility in northern India to produce the Carl-Gustaf recoilless rifle.

Johansson described India as a strategically important market, particularly in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, and said there remains scope for future industrial cooperation even if Gripen is not selected in this round.

According to Indian daily The Economic Times, Saab has offered to help establish a broad-based aerospace industrial ecosystem in India, spanning advanced design, production and maintenance. 

The newspaper quoted a Saab official as saying the company would engage with more than 300 tier one, tier two and tier three suppliers in India.

India’s current combat air fleet includes Su-30MKI and MiG-29 fighters alongside the indigenous LCA Tejas.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that France also hopes to sell additional submarines and helicopters to India, underlining the wider strategic defence relationship between the two countries.