Explained: Why India picked French Rafale over US’ 5th generation F-35 & Russian Su-57 Fighter jets

In the latest episode of Point Blank, Hindustan Times Executive Editor Shishir Gupta explains why India has chosen France’s Rafale as its next major fighter jet acquisition. Remember, the Defence Procurement Board recently cleared a proposal worth ₹3.25 lakh crore for 114 Rafale multi-role combat aircraft, with 25% of the deal set to be implemented in India under the “Make in India” framework. The episode decodes how France’s Rafale, considered a 4.5-generation aircraft and combat-proven, offers reliability without geopolitical strings. Watch this video for all the details.