Rafale reloaded: India makes ₹3.25 lakh cr bet on 114 French fighter jets to boost defence muscle
The clearance was granted by the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and the program was granted Acknowledgment of Necessity (AoN). The proposal had previously been approved by the Defense Acquisition Board, allowing it to proceed to the next phase of detailed technical and commercial negotiations.
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Under the approved framework, India will purchase 114 Rafale aircraft, of which 18 will be delivered in flying condition and the rest will be produced domestically. Around 90 aircraft in the fleet are expected to be built in India under the Make in India initiative.
The deal will increase India’s Rafale fleet to 176 aircraft, including 36 Rafale currently in service with the Indian Air Force and 26 Rafale-M jets ordered by the Navy for carrier operations.
The deal is expected to significantly boost India’s fighter jet capabilities at a time when the IAF operates around 30 squadrons, well below its authorized strength of 42, amid ongoing security challenges on both the western and northern fronts.
The IAF is scheduled to launch 88 single-seat and 26 double-seat variants under the programme. Local production will be carried out through cooperation between French aviation giant Dassault Aviation and Indian private sector companies, providing great support to the domestic defense production ecosystem.AAlso Read: America plans more defense sales to India: Top US official
Currently operating with the IAF, the Rafale has emerged as a central pillar of India’s air combat capability. Its advanced sensors and long-range strike profile, including weapons such as the Meteor beyond-visual-range missile and the SCALP cruise missile, have positioned the aircraft as a significant force multiplier.
Defense planners view the induction of additional Rafales in the near to medium term as critical, especially as India’s fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program is under development and the Tejas MkIA production line continues to grow.
With the AoN coming into force, the Rafale program will move into detailed negotiations covering pricing, delivery schedules, industrial partnerships and technology transfer. Officials stated that the final framework of the agreement is expected to emerge in the coming months before the official contract is signed.
The decision also strengthens India-France defense cooperation, which has expanded steadily in recent years and remains a cornerstone of New Delhi’s broader strategic and military engagement.
