India moves ahead on Rafale deal, IAF chief holds talks in France
As per the proposed arrangement, around 90 to 94 aircraft are expected to be manufactured in India through a partnership between Dassault Aviation and an Indian company under the Make in India initiative. File. | Photo Credit: Dinakar Peri
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh arrived in France on Monday, June 1, 2026, for a four-day visit amid India’s move to purchase 114 Rafale fighter jets in a deal estimated to be worth ₹ 3.25 lakh crore.
The visit comes just days after the Union Defense Ministry issued a Letter of Request to the French government, officially initiating the procurement process, sources said, in one of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) largest ever fighter jet procurement programmes.
France is expected to respond within the next two to three months, and negotiations are expected to be concluded within a year.
During his visit, the Air Chief Marshal will interact with senior French military officials and visit Rafale fighter jet manufacturer Dassault Aviation as well as missile manufacturer MBDA. The proposed acquisition is part of the IAF’s multi-role fighter aircraft programme, which aims to address the declining strength of its fighter fleet.
The IAF currently operates 36 Rafale fighter jets deployed under the 2016 India-France agreement and operates around 29 fighter squadrons against the authorized force of 42 squadrons.
As per the proposed arrangement, around 90 to 94 aircraft are expected to be manufactured in India through a partnership between Dassault Aviation and an Indian company under the Make in India initiative. The remaining aircraft will be delivered directly from France.
The program is expected to deliver around 50% localization and will be the first time Rafale fighter jets are produced outside France. The agreement is also expected to strengthen India’s aviation production and operational capabilities by facilitating the integration of indigenous weapons and systems.
It was published – 01 June 2026 22:54 IST
