Is France Putting Indian Rafale Jets at Risk Against Pakistan? Concerns Arise Over Sales to Qatar and UAE

India has expressed interest in acquiring 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy, with a possibility of 114 more for the Indian Air Force under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. However, recent reports indicate that France’s sale of Rafale jets to the Gulf nations, Qatar and the UAE, could pose technological risks for India. There are worries that allowing Pakistani and Turkish pilots to train on the Rafale and Mirage platforms of these countries could compromise sensitive military technology and expose key performance characteristics of the French jets. This situation could complicate India’s efforts to expand its Rafale fighter fleet and might necessitate a strategic reassessment.