IAF to Get 114 Rafales, First Batch from France, Rest Made in India

New Delhi – The Indian Air Force (IAF) is finalising plans for the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets, a mega deal valued at over ₹2 lakh crore ($23.8 billion). The contract, expected to be signed by next year, will combine quick off-the-shelf deliveries from France with a long-term plan to build the majority of aircraft in India under the Make in India initiative.

Fast-Track Deliveries

At least 18 Rafales will be supplied directly from France in fly-away condition to fill urgent operational gaps. These jets will arrive with Meteor beyond-visual-range missiles, Scalp cruise missiles, and India-specific upgrades, allowing them to enter frontline service almost immediately. The accelerated delivery plan bypasses the lengthy tender process, ensuring the IAF strengthens its fleet without delay.

Operational Need

The urgency comes as the IAF’s squadron strength has fallen to 29, well below the sanctioned 42.5 squadrons needed to counter potential threats from both China and Pakistan. The retirement of the MiG-21 fleet has worsened the shortfall. Recent combat drills, including Operation Sindoor, highlighted the Rafale’s ability to defeat advanced threats such as the Chinese PL-15 missile, underlining the aircraft’s importance in maintaining air superiority.

Made in India Drive

The bulk of the order—over 90 aircraft—will be assembled in India, with an indigenous content target of 60%. Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems are establishing a Rafale assembly line in Hyderabad, marking the first time Rafale fuselages will be built outside France. The facility will manufacture major airframe sections and is expected to scale up to producing two fuselages per month by 2028.

Future Indian-assembled Rafales will also receive upgrades beyond the current F4 standard, including longer-range weapons and enhanced avionics. A new Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) hub for the M-88 engines is also planned, reducing reliance on foreign service centers.

Strategic Edge

The deal is structured with sovereign guarantees from the French government, ensuring secure payments and guaranteed timelines. Once complete, the IAF’s Rafale fleet will grow to 176 aircraft, combining the original 36 already in service, the new 114 for the Air Force, and 36 ordered for the Navy.

Deliveries of the French-built batch are expected to begin soon after contract signature, while Indian production will ramp up through 2029–30. The plan balances immediate combat readiness with long-term industrial growth, supporting India’s push for strategic autonomy in defence.

With this landmark deal, the Rafale is set to remain the backbone of India’s fighter fleet until indigenous platforms like the Tejas Mk-1A and the fifth-generation AMCA enter service in the next decade.