New Delhi: India’s efforts to procure 114 more Rafale fighter aircraft has made headway with France responding to a Letter of Request (LOR) from New Delhi.
Paris has responded with a techno-commercial offer for the fighter jets that would sharpen the combat edge of the Indian Air Force (IAF). This marks the next step in a deal expected to be worth Rs 3.25 lakh crore, officials aware of the matter said, as reported by Hindustan Times.
The French government submitted its proposal to the Indian defence ministry on July 29, paving the way for negotiations on the government-to-government deal to begin, the officials said. India has sent the LOR in May.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) – India’s apex military procurement body – had in February cleared the purchase of military hardware worth Rs 3.6 lakh crore, including 114 Rafale jets under the MRFA (multi-role fighter aircraft) programme. The council’s acceptance of the necessity for new fighters was the first step in the procurement process.
The aircraft will be built in India by Dassault Aviation and a local partner under the MRFA model being considered. France is expected to supply 20 Rafale jets in fly-away condition while the remaining will be made in India. Discussions have been held with France regarding the localisation of the Rafales to be manufactured in India, the integration of local weapons and other India-specific requirements.
An empowered committee had made recommendations for enhancing the IAF’s capability last year. Induction of fighter jets, mid-air refuelers, and airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) systems topped the recommendations The IAF has around 30 fighter squadrons compared to an authorised strength of 42.5.
The IAF now operates 36 Rafale fighter jets bought from France at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. Some of these aircraft were used during Operation Sindoor in May 2025.
India also ordered 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets from France in April 2025 for the Navy, which will operate them from its two aircraft carriers. The first deliveries of the Rafale Ms under the Rs 63,000-crore contract will take place in 2029 and be completed by 2031.
