India's Rafale push: What the 114-jet deal means for defence

UPDATED: Aug 7, 2026 23:02 ISTIndia is moving ahead with one of its biggest fighter jet acquisition plans as France submits its detailed proposal for 114 Rafale jets, with 94 expected to be manufactured in India under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. In this video, we break down what the deal means for the Indian Air Force, indigenous weapons like the Astra missile, and the future of India's defence manufacturing ecosystem. We also discuss why India appears to be prioritising upgraded Su-30 MKIs and the AMCA project over the Russian Su-57, the concerns over fifth-generation fighter capability, and what the successful Agni-4 missile test signals about India's strategic deterrence and military preparedness. Read MoreVIDEOS FROM OTHER SECTIONSLATEST VIDEOSExclusive: How 1,000 VFX artists created Operation Safed Sagar aerial actionActor Siddharth explained how Operation Safed Sagar staged its aerial sequences using a massive VFX effort and a hydraulic MiG-21 cockpit. In the exclusive interview, Siddharth was joined by Prajakta Kohli, Taaruk Raina, Arnav Ahuja, Mihir Bhasin, Amruta Bagchi and Abhay Verma to discuss the upcoming series.