India, France Explore SCALP, Meteor Missiles Deals To Boost Air Force, Navy Capability After Operation Sindoor
India is weighing new missile acquisitions from France to strengthen the strike and air-defence capabilities of its Air Force and Navy, following operational lessons drawn from Operation Sindoor. Image courtesy: AI generated picture via DALL-E
India is exploring a major deal with France to buy the SCALP missiles that were successfully used during its Operation Sindoor strikes on Pakistan in May 2025.
The number of such cruise missiles, if contracted, would be a “significant” number, according to Indian Defence Ministry officials.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) had fired the SCALP missile to destroy the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba inside Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.
The Indian and French sides are currently in talks over the possible deal, and a decision on the contract would be made soon, the officials said.
IAF’s Rafale combat jets fired the SCALP missiles at terror infrastructure inside Pakistan, and BrahMos missiles were fired on military infrastructure.
The infrastructure were completely destroyed in the IAF’s accurate targeting during the Operation Sindoor strikes.
Apart from the SCALP, the IAF would also place an order for the Meteor air-to-air missiles for the Rafale jets, they officers said.
The Meteor missiles would be fitted on the naval variant of the Rafales, 26 of which were ordered for in 2025.
The Rafale-M are to be delivered beginning sometime in 2028.
India is also considering for approval a proposal to buy 114 Rafale jets from France to shore up its falling combat fleet strength.
The proposal will go through a series of decision layers before the contract would be signed, officials said.
