India has approved the purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation, marking one of the largest defence acquisition initiatives in the country’s history. The decision comes ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s scheduled visit to India and is aimed at strengthening the combat capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF) while deepening defense cooperation between India and France.
The proposal received Acceptance of Necessity from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The acquisition falls under the Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme and is estimated to be ₹3.25 lakh crore. The approval enables the process to proceed for further negotiations by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This acquisition is set to substantially increase the IAF’s fighter fleet, addressing the service’s shortfall in squadron strength amid the phased retirement of older aircraft. The Rafale jets are multi-role combat aircraft equipped for air dominance, precision strike, and long-range missions.
The procurement forms part of a wider defence modernisation plan that includes missiles and other advanced systems designed to enhance offensive and defensive capabilities across all branches of the armed forces. The DAC’s approval included proposal
s for combat missiles and air-ship-based high altitude pseudo-satellites (AS-HAPS), aimed at boosting long-range strike and surveillance capacities.
As per the proposed structure, 18 Rafale jet will be acquired in fly-away condition from France, while 96 aircraft will be manufactured domestically. This approach is consistent with India’s “Make in India” initiative and represents a substantial transfer of technology and manufacturing capacity to the domestic defence sector.
The IAF currently operates 36 Rafale aircraft inducted under a previous agreement. The procurement of 114 additional jets is intended to address squadron strength requirements and enhance operational readiness. The MRFA programme is designed to equip the Air Force with advanced multi-role fighter platforms capable of meeting diverse operational needs.
The approval of the Rafale acquisition was part of a broader set of capital procurement proposals amounting to approximately ₹3.60 lakh crore cleared by the DAC. The package includes other defence systems intended to strengthen overall military preparedness.
Once finalised, the agreement for 114 Rafale jets is expected to become one of India’s largest military procurements, combining immediate enhancement of air combat capability with long-term industrial collaboration through domestic production.
