India has formally begun the process of acquiring 114 Rafale fighter jets from France in a deal estimated at around Rs 3.25 lakh crore, one of the largest military procurement proposals in the country’s history. The Ministry of Defence’s Acquisition Wing has issued a Letter of Request to the French government, starting the government-to-government process for the purchase. According to defence ministry sources cited by ANI, France is expected to respond within two to three months, and negotiations could be completed with the agreement finalised within a year.
The proposed acquisition is part of the Indian Air Force’s Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft programme, which is intended to help restore the force’s combat strength. The Air Force currently operates 36 Rafale jets acquired under the 2016 India-France agreement, but its squadron strength has fallen to about 29, well below the sanctioned requirement of 42.5 squadrons. The new order is aimed at narrowing this gap as India faces rising operational demands and the need to modernise its fleet.
Under the plan, most of the aircraft are expected to be manufactured in India through a partnership between Dassault Aviation and an Indian company under the Make in India framework. Defence officials have suggested that about 90 to 94 aircraft could be produced domestically, while the rest would be supplied directly from France. The project is expected to achieve nearly 50 per cent localisation, making it a significant boost for India’s domestic aerospace manufacturing base.
If finalised, the deal would mark an important milestone for the Rafale programme because it would be the first time the fighter jet is manufactured outside France. Officials said the agreement would also allow India to integrate indigenous weapons and systems into the aircraft, while keeping the procurement process transparent and free from intermediaries. The arrangement is seen as both a military upgrade and an industrial development opportunity.
The timing of the move is notable, coming ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected visit to France in mid-June. It also coincides with Air Chief Marshal A P Singh’s visit to France, where the Indian Air Force chief is expected to meet French defence officials and visit Dassault facilities. The developments indicate continued momentum in India-France defence cooperation, building on the existing Rafale partnership and reflecting India’s push to strengthen air power through a mix of foreign collaboration and domestic production.
The proposed purchase also comes at a time when India is seeking to address long-term gaps in fighter aircraft availability. The scale of the programme, its local manufacturing component, and its strategic importance make it a major defence initiative for the Indian Air Force and the wider defence sector.
