NEW DELHI, — June 01, 2026 : India has formally issued a Letter of Request (LoR) to France for the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), advancing one of the country’s largest military aviation procurement programmes.
According to Defence Ministry sources, the request was sent by the Ministry of Defence’s Acquisition Wing following clearance from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). The proposed government-to-government deal is estimated at approximately ₹3.25 lakh crore and is aimed at strengthening the Indian Air Force’s combat capabilities while addressing its fighter squadron shortage.
France is expected to respond to India’s request within the next two to three months with details related to pricing, availability, logistics support, technology transfer, and manufacturing arrangements. Formal negotiations are expected to begin after the response, with officials anticipating completion within the next year.
Under the proposed programme, 94 of the 114 Rafale jets are planned to be manufactured in India through a partnership between Dassault Aviation and an Indian defence company, while the remaining aircraft will be delivered directly from France in fly-away condition.
The programme would mark the first time Rafale fighter jets are manufactured outside France. Defence Ministry sources said the project is expected to achieve nearly 50 percent localisation and support domestic aerospace manufacturing under the Make in India initiative.
A key feature of the proposal is India receiving authority and technical access to integrate indigenous weapon systems onto the aircraft. This would allow future integration of Indian-made systems such as the Astra and BrahMos-NG missiles.
The acquisition comes as the Indian Air Force continues to face a shortage of fighter squadrons. The IAF is currently operating around 29 fighter squadrons against a sanctioned requirement of 42.5 squadrons, making additional fighter inductions important for maintaining operational capability.
The Indian Air Force currently operates 36 Rafale aircraft acquired under a 2016 agreement with France. India has also ordered 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for the Indian Navy, with deliveries expected to begin in 2028 for carrier operations.
If the proposed acquisition is finalised, the total number of Rafale aircraft in Indian military service would increase to 176. Defence officials have also indicated that the Navy has expressed interest in acquiring an additional 31 Rafale Marine aircraft in the future, which could raise India’s Rafale fleet to more than 200 aircraft.
Officials believe operating a larger standardised Rafale fleet across the armed forces could improve logistics, maintenance, training, and operational support efficiency over the long term.
The Rafale is a 4.5-generation multirole fighter aircraft capable of conducting air superiority, strike, reconnaissance, and maritime missions. Indian Rafales currently operate with weapons including Meteor, SCALP, and MICA missile systems.
Officials said deliveries under the new programme could begin around three-and-a-half years after the contract is finalised.
The development comes during a period of high-level India-France defence engagement. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh is currently visiting France for discussions with French defence officials and visits to facilities operated by Dassault Aviation and missile manufacturer MBDA.
The Rafale programme is also expected to feature prominently during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to France in mid-June as both countries continue to expand defence and industrial cooperation.
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