NEW DELHI — May 14, 2026 : The Indian Air Force (IAF) has finalised the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the acquisition of 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA), marking a significant milestone in India’s largest ongoing fighter aircraft procurement programme. The development comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to France later in June 2026 and indicates growing alignment toward the selection of the Rafale fighter aircraft manufactured by Dassault Aviation.
According to defence officials, the structure of the RFP and earlier decisions taken by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) suggest that the programme is now moving beyond a conventional multi-vendor competition and evolving into a strategic government-to-government framework centred on the Rafale platform, which is already operational with the IAF.
Procurement Structure
Under the procurement plan, the 114 aircraft will be acquired through a two-part structure designed to address immediate operational requirements while expanding India’s domestic aerospace manufacturing sector.
The RFP provides for 22 aircraft to be delivered in fly-away condition directly from France, including trainer variants. The remaining 92 aircraft will be manufactured in India through a technology transfer arrangement under the “Make in India” initiative.
Defence officials stated that the inclusion of 22 ready-built aircraft reflects the IAF’s assessment of current operational requirements and consideration of global production and supply-chain constraints at Dassault Aviation’s Mérignac production facility.
Local Manufacturing and Technology Transfer
A central component of the programme is the phased localisation of manufacturing activities within India. The RFP reportedly mandates a 50 to 60 percent localisation target for the India-built aircraft.
To meet these requirements, Dassault Aviation is expected to significantly expand its industrial ecosystem in India through partnerships with Indian private-sector firms and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The programme is expected to include local assembly infrastructure, component manufacturing, supply-chain integration, and transfer of advanced aerospace manufacturing technologies.
Potential Indian industrial partners under consideration include Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Mahindra, and the Adani Group. Manufacturing operations are expected to be executed through a joint venture model, with final assembly lines under consideration at locations including Nagpur and Hyderabad.
Programme Timeline
The Defence Acquisition Council approved the 114-aircraft MRFA programme in February 2026. Defence sources indicated that the approval framework was closely aligned with the Rafale platform, effectively positioning the aircraft as the preferred solution for the IAF’s medium-weight fighter requirement.
The RFP is expected to be formally issued to Dassault Aviation in the coming months. Following commercial and technical negotiations, the programme will proceed for approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security before final contract signature.
If the agreement is finalised by the end of 2026, delivery of the first batch of fly-away aircraft is projected between 2029 and 2030. Deliveries of the India-manufactured aircraft would begin in later phases as domestic production facilities achieve operational capability.
Strategic Significance
The programme is expected to deepen defence-industrial cooperation between India and France while expanding long-term aerospace manufacturing capabilities within India. The procurement structure indicates a broader level of coordination between New Delhi and Paris extending beyond a standard defence acquisition arrangement.
The new aircraft will operate alongside the IAF’s existing fleet of 36 Rafale fighter jets currently in service. The programme also includes provisions linked to upgrading the current fleet to the Rafale F4 configuration.
The overall acquisition is estimated to be valued at approximately ₹3.25 lakh crore, making it one of India’s largest defence aviation programmes. India is also expected to become the first country outside France to manufacture the Rafale fighter aircraft domestically.
The procurement remains critical for the Indian Air Force as it continues efforts to restore its fighter squadron strength, which remains below the sanctioned requirement of 42 squadrons.
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