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NEW DELHI: The defence ministry has initiated discussions on a proposal to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets from France at an estimated cost of Rs 3.25 lakh crore, a move that could mark India’s largest-ever defence procurement and significantly bolster the Indian Air Force’s combat strength amid rising regional security challenges.According to defence sources, the proposal is expected to be taken up shortly by the Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh, ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India later this month. The project has already cleared the Defence Procurement Board and will require Acceptance of Necessity approval before moving to technical and commercial negotiations.
What the 114-Rafale proposal entails
Under the plan, 18 Rafale jets would be procured in fly-away condition, while the remaining aircraft would be manufactured in India under a government-to-government agreement with France.Sources said close to 80% of the 114 aircraft are planned to be built domestically, with indigenous content initially pegged at around 30%, though officials expect this to rise to over 60% during the course of production.The Indian Air Force has proposed a mix of 88 single-seater and 26 twin-seater aircraft, with French manufacturer Dassault Aviation collaborating with Indian private sector firms for manufacturing and systems integration.
India has also sought the integration of indigenous weapons and systems on the aircraft, though source codes will remain with the French side.If approved, the deal would raise India’s Rafale fleet to 176 aircraft, including the 36 Rafales already in service with the IAF and 26 Rafale-M jets ordered by the Indian Navy for carrier operations.
Why India is doubling down on Rafale
The push for the Rafale acquisition comes even as the United States and Russia have offered their fifth-generation fighters, including the F-35 and Su-57, to India.
Defence planners, however, see the Rafale as a proven and immediately available solution to bridge the IAF’s capability gap.“The Statement of Case or the proposal for the 114 Rafale jets prepared by the Indian Air Force was received by the defence ministry a few months ago. Once approved by the Defence Ministry, the proposal will have to be given final clearance by the Cabinet Committee on Security,” sources said.The IAF is currently operating around 30 fighter squadrons, far below its sanctioned strength of 42, at a time when threat perceptions from China and Pakistan are intensifying.
Combat performance and industrial push
The Rafale’s recent operational performance has also strengthened its case. Officials have cited its role during Operation Sindoor, where the aircraft is said to have successfully countered Chinese PL-15 air-to-air missiles using its Spectra electronic warfare suite.Armed with long-range Meteor missiles, SCALP cruise missiles and precision-guided munitions, the Rafale is seen as a cornerstone of India’s 4.5-generation-plus combat capability.The French side is also planning to set up a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility for the M-88 engines in Hyderabad, a move expected to deepen India’s aerospace ecosystem. Dassault has already established an Indian entity to support maintenance of French-origin fighter aircraft, with companies such as Tata likely to play a role in manufacturing and support.
Filling the gap before indigenous fighters arrive
Defence planners see the Rafale deal as critical in the interim period before indigenous programmes mature. While India has placed orders for 180 Tejas Mark 1A fighters, production has faced delays linked to engine supplies. The indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft fifth-generation project is also not expected to enter service before the mid-2030s.Against this backdrop, the Rafale is expected to remain the IAF’s primary multirole combat aircraft alongside the Su-30 MKI fleet, providing a technological edge and operational readiness.(With inputs from ANI)
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