ISLAMABAD: The impending signing of a Strategic Defence Partnership betweenIndia and the United Arab Emirates marks a significant milestone in theirbilateral relations, with the Rafale fighter jet emerging as the centralelement of enhanced military collaboration. This pact, anticipated toformalize deepened cooperation in defence production, joint exercises, andtechnology sharing, comes at a time when both nations operate substantialfleets of the multirole aircraft manufactured by France’s DassaultAviation. The move underscores a broader trend of strategic convergencebetween New Delhi and Abu Dhabi, driven by common interests in maritimesecurity, counterterrorism, and regional stability across the Indian Oceanand Middle East.
India has long viewed the UAE as a vital partner in the Gulf, with defenceties tracing back to a memorandum signed in 2003 and further strengthenedby a security cooperation agreement in 2011. Recent developments haveaccelerated this trajectory, particularly following the UAE’s landmark 2021purchase of 80 Rafale F4 jets in a government-to-government deal valued atbillions of dollars. Deliveries of these advanced fighters to the UAE AirForce commenced in early 2025, with the bulk scheduled between 2027 and2031, equipping Abu Dhabi with cutting-edge capabilities in airsuperiority, precision strikes, and electronic warfare.
Concurrently, India maintains its own operational fleet of 36 Rafale jetsacquired in a 2016 inter-governmental agreement worth approximately $8billion. These aircraft have been integrated into the Indian Air Force’sfrontline squadrons, bolstering its combat readiness amid evolving threatsalong its borders. Reports indicate that India is advancing towardprocuring an additional 114 Rafale fighters under the Multi-Role FighterAircraft programme, a deal potentially valued at over $36 billion thatreceived key clearances in early 2026. This expansion would further alignIndia’s air power strategy with the UAE’s acquisitions, creatingopportunities for shared logistical support and operational synergies.
The Rafale’s role as a unifying platform has given rise to informalmechanisms such as the “Rafale Forum,” which facilitates trilateralengagement involving India, France, and the UAE. This initiative serves asa strategic conduit for discussions on maintenance, upgrades, andinteroperability standards, enhancing collective capabilities in theIndo-Pacific and beyond. Joint training programmes involving pilots andground crews from both air forces are expected to expand, includinginstructor exchanges and combined exercises that leverage the aircraft’sadvanced sensors, Meteor beyond-visual-range missiles, and modular missionsystems.
Defence industrial collaboration forms a cornerstone of the forthcomingpact, with provisions likely to encourage joint ventures in manufacturing,research, and development. India’s “Make in India” initiative aligns withthe UAE’s push for defence indigenisation, potentially leading toco-production of components or subsystems for the Rafale or relatedtechnologies. Such partnerships would contribute to reducing dependency onexternal suppliers while fostering technology transfer and skilldevelopment in high-tech sectors.
Broader strategic implications extend to regional security dynamics. TheUAE seeks reliable partners to navigate Middle Eastern uncertainties,viewing India as a stable actor capable of providing advanced militaryhardware and expertise without entangling alliances. For India, therelationship diversifies its defence partnerships beyond traditionalsuppliers and strengthens its presence in the Gulf, a critical region forenergy security and expatriate welfare. Enhanced cooperation could alsoextend to maritime domain awareness, cyber defence, and counterterrorismoperations, reflecting shared priorities in addressing asymmetric threats.
Economic dimensions complement the military framework, as bilateral tradetargets ambitious growth, supported by agreements in energy andinfrastructure. The defence pact is expected to facilitate greaterintegration of supply chains, with potential for Indian exports of defenceequipment to the UAE rising in tandem with joint projects. Analysts notethat this convergence bolsters India’s global defence footprint,positioning it as an emerging exporter while reinforcing the UAE’smodernisation efforts.
The agreement arrives amid India’s sustained focus on air power enhancementand the UAE’s completion of initial Rafale inductions. As both nationsprepare for formalisation, expectations centre on concrete outcomes intraining, industrial offsets, and operational coordination. Thispartnership exemplifies evolving South-South cooperation in defence, whereshared platforms like the Rafale catalyse deeper strategic alignment.
Source:https://idrw.org/india-and-uae-set-to-sign-strategic-defence-pact-as-rafale-partnership-takes-centre-stage
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