IAF seeks 114 Rafale jets in direct deal with France, bypassing MRFA tender

India is poised to move forward with a government-to-government (G2G) proposal for 114 additional Rafale fighter jets under its Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program, The Times of India reports. 

The Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to submit the case for “Acceptance of Necessity” (AoN), an early but essential step in India’s defense procurement process, to the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) by October 2025. A final government decision is expected thereafter. 

Addressing the IAF’s dwindling fighter fleet 

The IAF currently operates 31 fighter squadrons with 16 – 18 jets each, well below the sanctioned strength of 42.5 needed to address simultaneous threats from Pakistan and China. With the retirement of the last MiG-21s scheduled for next month, the fleet will shrink to 29 squadrons — the lowest level in the service’s history. 

“Government will take the final decision when the MRFA case comes to DAC,” a source told The Times of India. “But yes, IAF has projected an urgent need for additional Rafales to stem the depletion in the number of its fighter squadrons.” 

These pressures intensified following Operation Sindoor, conducted from May 7 to 10, 2025, during which Rafales carried out long-range strikes against Pakistani targets. Islamabad claimed to have downed six IAF aircraft, including three Rafales, using Chinese J-10 fighters equipped with PL-15 beyond-visual-range missiles. India has denied suffering any losses. 

The IAF argues that a direct G2G purchase would be more economical and logistically viable than an open global tender. With 36 Rafales already in service, Ambala and Hasimara air bases are fully equipped to host at least one additional squadron each. 

One sticking point, The Times of India noted, is India’s request for access to the Rafale’s source code to integrate indigenous weapons systems. French manufacturers, including Dassault, Safran, Thales, and MBDA, are cautious about granting such access without strong safeguards to protect proprietary technology. 

Reinforcing the local industry 

The potential deal comes as Franco-Indian industrial cooperation on the Rafale deepens. In June 2025, Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) signed four Production Transfer Agreements to manufacture Rafale fuselages in Hyderabad, the first time such assemblies will be built outside France. 

The new facility will produce complete fuselage sections, including the front, central, and rear assemblies, for both Indian and potential export aircraft. Production is scheduled to begin in FY2028 at a rate of up to two fuselages per month. 

Separately, India is in talks with France’s Safran to co-develop a new high-thrust engine for its future Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), expected to enter service around 2035.

The Indian Navy is also set to receive 26 Rafale M carrier-based fighters from 2028 for deployment on the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. Advocates of the Rafale option say that operating a common platform across both the Air Force and Navy would simplify pilot training, reduce maintenance costs, and streamline spare parts inventories. 

Other options 

IAF officials have rejected rumors that the Korean KF-21 Boramae is under consideration for MRFA, confirming it is not on the shortlist. Alongside the Rafale, other contenders remain the Lockheed Martin F-21 (a variant of the F-16V), Saab Gripen E/F, Boeing F-15EX, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Russia’s MiG-35 and Su-35.

India has ruled out buying Lockheed Martin’s F-35A amid an ongoing trade dispute with the US. The IAF is, however, exploring potential co-production of 50 to 60 Su-57E fighters with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), with discussions expected during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi in September 2025.

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The MRFA initiative comes amid reports that China will supply Pakistan with at least 40 J-35A stealth fighters. If concluded, the Rafale order would set a new export record for Dassault Aviation and provide a significant boost to India’s combat capability, while reinforcing its defense and industrial partnership with France at a time of heightened tensions with Islamabad and Beijing. The post IAF seeks 114 Rafale jets in direct deal with France, bypassing MRFA tender appeared first on AeroTime.

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