India is nearing a major defence procurement decision with France as talks advance on acquiring additional SCALP air-launched cruise missiles, defence sources said. The move follows the missile’s successful operational use during the Indian Air Force’s precision strikes in Operation Sindoor last year, strengthening the case for expanding India’s long-range strike inventory.
During Operation Sindoor, IAF Rafale jets deployed SCALP missiles in conjunction with BrahMos weapons to target terrorist infrastructure linked to Jaish-e-Mohamed and Lashkar-e-Toiba in Pakistan’s Muridke and Bahawalpur areas. Officials described the attacks as exceptionally precise, with hardened facilities neutralized while limiting collateral effects. The mission outcomes reinforced confidence in SCALP’s penetration capabilities and performance in contested airspace.
Designed for deep-strike missions, the SCALP—also known as Storm Shadow—features terrain-following flight, low-observable shaping, and advanced guidance to evade air defenses and deliver high accuracy at extended ranges. These characteristics support the IAF’s doctrine of stand-off engagement, allowing aircraft to strike critical targets without entering heavily defended zones.
Cost estimates place the missile at around $3 million per unit, with discussions reportedly covering a batch of roughly 100 to 120 missiles. Such a purchase would substantially boost India’s operational reserves and provide sustained strike capacity across multiple squadrons. Defence planners are also exploring cross-domain applications, including potential use by naval aviation assets.
Beyond the numbers, the deal highlights the depth of the India–France strategic partnership, now one of New Delhi’s most dependable sources of advanced military technology. Expanding the SCALP inventory would further integrate the missile with India’s Rafale fleet and embed long-range precision strike as a core element of India’s air power strategy.
