India seeks to join France’s sixth-gen fighter programme

India has initiated efforts to join France's Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme, the first official confirmation of which came in the Defence Ministry's response to a parliamentary panel. The ministry told the Standing Committee on Defence that it has begun work 'in a concerted manner to co-join' the French-led next-generation combat aircraft programme. No agreement exists yet on workshare, funding, or technology transfer; the panel has sought a detailed roadmap from the ministry.

The Indian Air Force faces a fighter shortfall, operating 29 squadrons against an authorised strength of 42.5. The MiG-21 fleet has retired, and Jaguars and Mirage 2000s will be phased out in coming years. India's near-term plans revolve around the Tejas Mk1A, Tejas Mk2, additional Rafales, and the AMCA fifth-generation fighter, but FCAS sits a generation beyond all of them.

France's FCAS began as a Franco-German project but Germany abandoned the joint fighter effort in June, leaving Dassault Aviation to pursue the next-generation fighter largely on its own. France retains a complete combat-aircraft industrial base and has offered India an early partnership, unlike the Japan-led GCAP programme, which has a narrowing entry window. The French demonstrator first flight is targeted for 2031-32.