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India currently has 36 Rafale aircraft.
France has submitted a proposal to India for the supply of 114 Rafale fighter jets under a deal worth around ₹3.25 lakh crore.
The proposal includes large-scale manufacturing in India, with indigenous production of components for the aircraft.
The Ministry of Defence and the Indian Air Force will now evaluate the proposal. India had issued a Letter of Request to France in May for the government-to-government deal, to which France has now formally responded.
India sought greater indigenous content in the deal
India had asked France to integrate different variants of the indigenous Astra air-to-air missile into the Rafale jets and to maximise the use of locally manufactured components.
94 fighter jets to be built in India
Under the proposed deal, 94 of the 114 Rafale fighter jets will be manufactured in India in partnership with local industry. Dassault Aviation will work alongside its partners, including missile maker MBDA, engine manufacturer Safran and defence electronics company Thales.
The agreement is expected to involve significant indigenisation, creating business opportunities worth an estimated ₹1.6 lakh crore for Indian companies such as Tata and Larsen & Toubro, among others.
Focus on strengthening the Indian Air Force
The Rafale is expected to become a key pillar of the Indian Air Force’s future combat fleet. The aircraft was originally selected by the Ministry of Defence in 2012, and efforts to strengthen the Air Force gained momentum following a comprehensive capability review under Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
Around five months ago, the Defence Acquisition Council approved the Air Force’s proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets. The move comes as the Air Force’s squadron strength continues to decline due to the retirement of ageing aircraft, particularly Russian-origin MiG fighters, and delays in the induction of indigenous platforms such as the LCA Mk1A and Mk2.
India’s Rafale fleet could exceed 200 aircraft
The Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy have already placed orders for 62 Rafale fighter jets. If the proposed order for 114 additional aircraft is approved, the combined fleet will increase to 176.
The Indian Navy has also indicated its requirement for 31 more Rafale jets to strengthen its maritime capabilities, which could take India’s total Rafale fleet beyond 200 aircraft.
36 Rafale fighter jets already delivered to India
In 2016, India signed a €7.87 billion (around ₹59,000 crore) deal with France to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets. The delivery was completed in December 2022, with all 36 aircraft inducted into the Indian Air Force.
