France studies India’s Operation Sindoor experience as it weighs longer-range missile for Rafale
New Delhi, Sep 30. France is studying the Indian Air Force’s operational experience during Operation Sindoor as it explores the development of a longer-range air-to-air missile for its Rafale fighter fleet, a senior French Air and Space Force officer has said.
French Air and Space Force Vice-Chief Lt Gen Dominique Tardif, who is in India for the second edition of the IAF’s multinational air combat exercise Tarang Shakti, said France was closely examining the lessons emerging from India’s air operations against Pakistan.
The IAF currently operates 36 Rafale fighters acquired from French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation, while India is expected to procure another 114 Rafales under a proposed contract that envisages a significant ‘Make in India’ component.
Interacting with the media, Tardif said the scale and complexity of the air operations during Operation Sindoor had attracted considerable attention among foreign air forces.
“I think we haven’t seen something like this since, perhaps, World War II,” he said, referring to the large number of aircraft operating in the same battlespace during the four-day conflict in May last year.
“For sure, it has something interesting for all different air forces,” Tardif said, underlining the operational lessons that could be drawn from India’s experience.
France seeks greater missile range
The French officer said Paris was also examining the next generation of air-to-air weapons for the Rafale, particularly in view of advances in long-range missiles being developed by other countries.
France is working with European missile manufacturer MBDA to enhance the range and performance of its air-to-air weapons, he said, citing the need to keep pace with systems such as China’s PL-15 and Russia’s R-37.
“This is something we are closely following in France, and we are discussing it with MBDA, which is working to develop the missile we need in terms of range,” Tardif said.
His comments assume significance in the context of Operation Sindoor, during which Pakistan employed Chinese-origin PL-15 air-to-air missiles.
The IAF and French Air and Space Force currently operate MBDA’s Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, whose publicly cited engagement range is around 150 km. Competing long-range systems developed by China and Russia, as well as some US systems, are understood to offer substantially greater reach.
“We have put very big pressure on MBDA in order to design and produce a longer range missile rapidly,” Tardif said.
India-France discussions on sixth-generation fighter
Tardif also indicated that India and France could explore cooperation on the development of sixth-generation combat aircraft. He stressed, however, that such a programme would involve more than simply developing a new fighter jet, pointing towards the concept of a broader combat system.
The issue of sixth-generation fighter development has also figured in recent Indian defence policy discussions. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said last week that India was working towards developing sixth-generation fighter aircraft.
Tardif is in India as part of the French participation in Tarang Shakti 2026 being hosted by the IAF in Jodhpur. French Rafales are taking part in the exercise as part of Mission Pegase 2026, a 40-day French air-power projection deployment covering India, the United States, Japan, South Korea and other destinations.
The French interest in Operation Sindoor comes as India and France deepen defence cooperation spanning fighter aircraft, missiles, engines, aerospace technology and the development of advanced combat systems.
