Employee detained in France as India clears Make-in-India production of 114 jets
February 18, 2026: A major security breach has been reported at a production facility of the Dassault Aviation in France, shortly after India announced plans to manufacture the Rafale fighter jet domestically. An employee was allegedly found working with a camera attached to his glasses without authorisation. The incident has been treated as highly sensitive, with the individual handed over to French police and preparations underway to initiate a national security case.
The Rafale, a 4.5-generation omni-role combat aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons, is regarded as one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets. Its radar systems, missile integration and avionics are considered top-tier, making the protection of technical data critical. The breach comes as India’s Defence Ministry cleared the production of 114 Rafale jets under the Make in India initiative. Besides India and France, the UAE and Egypt operate the aircraft, while Indonesia has recently signed a major procurement deal.
During his India visit, Emmanuel Macron held discussions with Narendra Modi, with defence cooperation high on the agenda. Under the approved proposal, India will import 18 jets directly from Dassault Aviation, while 96 will be manufactured domestically, including twin-seater variants for pilot training. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described India-France defence ties as “limitless,” highlighting the recent inauguration of the H125 helicopter final assembly line as another milestone in bilateral collaboration.