New Delhi: A mega ₹3.25 lakh crore proposal to procure 114 French-made Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme is likely to be cleared by the Defence Ministry this week, according to sources. The expected clearance comes just days before French President Emmanuel Macron’s scheduled visit to India.
If approved, the agreement will become India’s largest-ever defence procurement deal by value. The proposal reportedly includes provisions for manufacturing a large number of the aircraft — estimated at around 100 — within India through technology transfer and industrial partnership arrangements, aligning with the Centre’s Make in India push in the defence sector.
Officials have not yet issued a formal confirmation, but defence sources indicate that the file is at an advanced stage of consideration.
Biggest fighter jet deal for the IAF
The proposed MRFA deal is aimed at strengthening the IAF’s fighter squadron strength and replacing ageing aircraft in its fleet. The Rafale is a twin-engine, multi-role fighter capable of air superiority, ground strike, reconnaissance and nuclear deterrence missions.
India has already inducted 36 Rafale fighters under an earlier government-to-government agreement with France. Delivery of the last aircraft from that batch was completed in December 2024. These jets are currently deployed with No. 17 Squadron at Ambala and No. 101 Squadron at Hasimara in West Bengal.
With the proposed addition of 114 more aircraft, India would become one of the largest operators of Rafale fighters outside France.
Make in India and technology transfer component
Sources said a key feature of the new proposal is domestic manufacturing. Around 100 of the 114 aircraft are expected to be produced in India through licensed production and transfer of advanced aerospace technology.
This would involve collaboration between French manufacturer Dassault Aviation and Indian industry partners, significantly expanding local capability in fighter aircraft production and systems integration.
A broader industrial ecosystem is expected to be built around the programme, including components manufacturing, supply chains, maintenance infrastructure and skilled workforce development.
The proposed structure is seen as a strategic step to reduce long-term import dependence and build domestic defence manufacturing depth.
Earlier Dassault–Tata production agreements
India and France have already moved forward on production-linked cooperation in the Rafale ecosystem. In June last year, Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited announced four major production transfer agreements.
Under those arrangements, Tata Advanced Systems is setting up advanced manufacturing capability in Hyderabad for key Rafale structural sections, including parts of the fuselage and rear sections.
The first fuselage segments from this line are expected to roll out around 2028, with a targeted production rate of up to two complete fuselage sets per month. Final assembly for those aircraft is planned at Dassault’s facility in France.
Industry experts say the proposed 114-aircraft deal could further deepen this manufacturing partnership.
Separate Rafale-M deal for the Navy
Apart from the IAF’s earlier 36-aircraft Rafale fleet, India has also signed a separate ₹63,000 crore deal to procure 26 Rafale-M (marine) variants for the Indian Navy.
These carrier-capable fighters are intended for deployment on aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. The naval package includes twin-seat trainer aircraft, logistics support, training and a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) framework.
Together, the Air Force and Navy Rafale inductions mark a major expansion of India’s reliance on the French fighter platform.
Operational capabilities of the platform
The Rafale platform is equipped with advanced radar, electronic warfare and precision strike systems. It can carry a range of modern weapons, including long-range air-to-air missiles, precision-guided munitions and stand-off strike systems.
The aircraft is also integrated with advanced electronic warfare suites and targeting systems designed to improve survivability and mission effectiveness in contested environments.
IAF Rafales have already been used in high-readiness operational deployments, including missions along sensitive borders and in major air exercises.
Strategic timing before Macron visit
The likely timing of the Defence Ministry clearance — just ahead of President Macron’s India visit — is being viewed as strategically significant. Defence and aerospace cooperation remains a central pillar of the India–France strategic partnership.
Both countries have steadily expanded collaboration across defence procurement, joint exercises, technology development and industrial partnerships over the past decade.
If the clearance comes through this week, it is expected to feature prominently in bilateral discussions during the French president’s visit.
Conclusion
The proposed ₹3.25 lakh crore Rafale MRFA deal represents a major step in strengthening India’s air combat capability while also pushing forward domestic defence manufacturing through technology transfer. With scale, strategic timing and industrial participation built into the plan, the decision — once finalised — could reshape India’s fighter aircraft roadmap for the next two decades.