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India begins process to procure 114 jets (Img: Internet)
New Delhi: India has formally initiated the process to acquire 114 Rafale fighter aircraft from France in a defence deal estimated to be worth around Rs 3.25 lakh crore.
According to defence ministry sources, the Ministry of Defence’s Acquisition Wing recently issued a Letter of Request (LoR) to the French government, beginning the government-to-government procurement process for the proposed fighter jet purchase.
Rafale Jets, Submarines And Engines: The New Chapter Of India-France Defence Ties Explained
The proposed acquisition is part of the Indian Air Force’s Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme aimed at strengthening the country’s combat capabilities amid declining squadron strength.
India has formally started the process to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets from France in a mega defence deal worth around Rs 3.25 lakh crore under the IAF’s MRFA programme.#Rafale #IndianAirForce #DefenceNews #MRFA #MakeInIndia #IAF #DefenceDeal pic.twitter.com/pwxppmIw4C
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) June 1, 2026
At present, the Indian Air Force operates 36 Rafale fighter jets purchased under the 2016 India-France agreement. The force currently has around 29 fighter squadrons against the sanctioned requirement of 42.5 squadrons, making the new procurement crucial for operational preparedness.
Under the proposed agreement, a significant number of aircraft are expected to be manufactured in India under the government’s Make in India initiative.
Defence officials indicated that around 90 to 94 jets may be produced domestically through a partnership between French aerospace company Dassault Aviation and an Indian defence manufacturing partner.
The remaining aircraft are likely to be supplied directly from France. Officials said the project could achieve nearly 50 percent localisation and would also allow integration of indigenous weapons systems into the fighter jets.
If finalised, the programme would mark the first time Rafale fighter aircraft are manufactured outside France. The government is also expected to ensure that the procurement process remains transparent and free from intermediaries.
According to reports, France is expected to respond to India’s Letter of Request within the next two to three months, while negotiations could conclude within a year.
The development comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected visit to France later this month. It also coincides with Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh’s visit to France, where meetings with French defence officials and Dassault Aviation representatives are expected.
The proposed deal is being viewed as one of India’s largest military procurement programmes and a major step towards modernising the Indian Air Force fleet.
