India and France are edging closer to finalizing a significant defence agreement focused on the procurement of additional SCALP air-launched cruise missiles, a capability that proved its operational effectiveness during the Indian Air Force’s precision strikes under Operation Sindoor last year. Defence officials familiar with the talks say negotiations are advancing steadily, with a formal decision expected in the near future—underscoring New Delhi’s intent to strengthen its long-range precision-strike arsenal.
Momentum behind the proposed acquisition is driven largely by combat experience. During Operation Sindoor, IAF Rafale fighters employed SCALP missiles alongside BrahMos weapons to strike high-value terrorist infrastructure associated with Jaish-e-Mohamed and Lashkar-e-Toiba in Pakistan’s Muridke and Bahawalpur regions. Officials described the strikes as highly accurate, with hardened targets destroyed while limiting collateral damage. The results reinforced confidence in SCALP’s penetration, navigation precision, and survivability in contested airspace.
Known in some markets as Storm Shadow, SCALP is designed for deep-strike missions against fortified facilities, command centers, and strategic assets. Its terrain-hugging flight profile, stealth-optimized design, and advanced guidance enable it to evade air defenses while maintaining accuracy at long ranges. For the IAF, this aligns closely with an operational doctrine emphasizing stand-off engagement without exposing aircraft to high-threat zones.
Cost considerations highlight the scale of the potential deal. With unit prices estimated at around $3 million, discussions are believed to involve an order of approximately 100–120 missiles. Such a purchase would significantly expand India’s operational stockpile and sustain readiness across multiple squadrons. Defence planners are also examining options for cross-service use, including possible integration with naval aviation.
Strategically, the acquisition reflects the deepening India–France defence partnership, which has evolved into a key pillar of New Delhi’s high-technology security cooperation. Expanding the SCALP inventory would reinforce Rafale interoperability and ensure continuity in precision-strike missions, strengthening India’s deterrence posture and rapid-response capability.
