Flash Info: Indian Air Force requests 114 additional Rafale French fighter jets with domestic production
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According to information published by The Times of India on August 11, 2025, the Indian Air Force has strongly advocated for a government-to-government deal with France to secure 114 Rafale multi-role fighter aircraft under the long-delayed MRFA program. The Air Force has pressed New Delhi to bypass a competitive global tender and replicate the direct arrangement used in 2016 for the earlier acquisition of 36 Rafales, which were delivered between 2020 and 2022. The proposal, if approved, would mark one of the largest fighter aircraft procurements in Asia and represents a decisive move to consolidate India’s combat aviation fleet.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
India has already received all 36 Rafale fighters from France, with deliveries completed by 2022. (Picture source: India Air Force)
The MRFA program, short for Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft, is one of India’s most ambitious military aviation initiatives, designed to provide the Air Force with a new generation of combat aircraft capable of air superiority, ground strike, reconnaissance, and maritime roles. Envisioned as a 114-jet acquisition, the program aims not only to modernize India’s air power but also to establish large-scale domestic fighter production through foreign collaboration. This initiative directly supports the government’s “Make in India” defense industrial policy, requiring international manufacturers to set up assembly lines, transfer technology, and strengthen India’s aerospace ecosystem for future self-reliance.
India’s relationship with the French Rafale fighter jet began with the €7.8 billion agreement signed in 2016 between New Delhi and Paris for 36 aircraft, including 28 single-seat and 8 twin-seat variants. Dassault Aviation completed the delivery of all jets by the end of 2022, and the Rafales are now operational at Ambala and Hasimara air bases, covering both the western and eastern fronts. These fighters, customized with Indian-specific enhancements such as advanced electronic warfare systems, helmet-mounted sights, and long-range Meteor air-to-air missiles, have already transformed the Indian Air Force’s strike capabilities.
In addition to the Air Force fleet, India is also moving to strengthen its naval aviation with the Rafale. In 2023, New Delhi approved the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine fighters for the Indian Navy, intended for deployment from the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The naval contract further deepens the Rafale’s role across India’s armed services, positioning it as a cross-domain platform capable of defending both skies and seas.
The operational argument for expanding the Rafale fleet is clear. India faces a dual-front challenge with China and Pakistan, both modernizing their air forces with fifth-generation and advanced fourth-generation fighters. The induction of 114 additional Rafales would give India a formidable edge in air dominance, deep strike, and maritime roles, particularly given the aircraft’s proven performance in mountainous terrain and long-range missions. Maintaining a single platform family also reduces logistical burdens, improves pilot training cycles, and ensures interoperability across squadrons.
The Rafale itself is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing fighter developed by Dassault Aviation, designed as a true multi-role platform capable of performing air-to-air combat, deep strike missions, intelligence gathering, and carrier-based operations. Equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar, advanced electronic warfare systems, and a wide range of precision-guided munitions, the Rafale is considered one of the most versatile fourth-plus-generation fighters in service today. Its integration of the Meteor beyond-visual-range missile and SCALP cruise missile provides unmatched reach and lethality in the region.
Industrial consequences are equally significant. While competitors such as Boeing with its F-15EX, Lockheed Martin with the F-21 variant of the F-16, Saab with the Gripen E, and the Eurofighter consortium have long positioned themselves for the MRFA race, a direct Rafale deal could effectively shut them out. This would generate controversy in the global defense market but provide India with a faster and more predictable procurement track. Dassault’s deeper integration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and private Indian defense firms would also reinforce New Delhi’s ambition to establish a domestic aerospace manufacturing base with export potential.
Geopolitically, this move would mark a new peak in Indo-French defense cooperation. Paris has become one of India’s most trusted strategic partners, supplying not only fighter aircraft but also Scorpene submarines, advanced radar systems, and space technologies. Securing a deal for 114 Rafales would further cement France’s role as a cornerstone of India’s military modernization, while also balancing New Delhi’s ties with the United States and Russia. For France, it would be the largest overseas order for the Rafale, strengthening its global market dominance and validating its status as one of the world’s most successful fighter exports.
The Indian government now faces a pivotal decision. Proceeding with a government-to-government deal could accelerate force modernization and secure the Air Force’s preferred option, but it also risks criticism for sidelining a competitive process. For the Air Force, however, time is critical, and the rapid induction of a proven aircraft, such as the French Rafale fighter jet, may outweigh the benefits of an open tender. If approved, negotiations could begin later this year, opening the path for one of the most consequential defense procurements in India’s history.
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According to information published by The Times of India on August 11, 2025, the Indian Air Force has strongly advocated for a government-to-government deal with France to secure 114 Rafale multi-role fighter aircraft under the long-delayed MRFA program. The Air Force has pressed New Delhi to bypass a competitive global tender and replicate the direct arrangement used in 2016 for the earlier acquisition of 36 Rafales, which were delivered between 2020 and 2022. The proposal, if approved, would mark one of the largest fighter aircraft procurements in Asia and represents a decisive move to consolidate India’s combat aviation fleet.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
India has already received all 36 Rafale fighters from France, with deliveries completed by 2022. (Picture source: India Air Force)
The MRFA program, short for Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft, is one of India’s most ambitious military aviation initiatives, designed to provide the Air Force with a new generation of combat aircraft capable of air superiority, ground strike, reconnaissance, and maritime roles. Envisioned as a 114-jet acquisition, the program aims not only to modernize India’s air power but also to establish large-scale domestic fighter production through foreign collaboration. This initiative directly supports the government’s “Make in India” defense industrial policy, requiring international manufacturers to set up assembly lines, transfer technology, and strengthen India’s aerospace ecosystem for future self-reliance.
India’s relationship with the French Rafale fighter jet began with the €7.8 billion agreement signed in 2016 between New Delhi and Paris for 36 aircraft, including 28 single-seat and 8 twin-seat variants. Dassault Aviation completed the delivery of all jets by the end of 2022, and the Rafales are now operational at Ambala and Hasimara air bases, covering both the western and eastern fronts. These fighters, customized with Indian-specific enhancements such as advanced electronic warfare systems, helmet-mounted sights, and long-range Meteor air-to-air missiles, have already transformed the Indian Air Force’s strike capabilities.
In addition to the Air Force fleet, India is also moving to strengthen its naval aviation with the Rafale. In 2023, New Delhi approved the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine fighters for the Indian Navy, intended for deployment from the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The naval contract further deepens the Rafale’s role across India’s armed services, positioning it as a cross-domain platform capable of defending both skies and seas.
The operational argument for expanding the Rafale fleet is clear. India faces a dual-front challenge with China and Pakistan, both modernizing their air forces with fifth-generation and advanced fourth-generation fighters. The induction of 114 additional Rafales would give India a formidable edge in air dominance, deep strike, and maritime roles, particularly given the aircraft’s proven performance in mountainous terrain and long-range missions. Maintaining a single platform family also reduces logistical burdens, improves pilot training cycles, and ensures interoperability across squadrons.
The Rafale itself is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing fighter developed by Dassault Aviation, designed as a true multi-role platform capable of performing air-to-air combat, deep strike missions, intelligence gathering, and carrier-based operations. Equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar, advanced electronic warfare systems, and a wide range of precision-guided munitions, the Rafale is considered one of the most versatile fourth-plus-generation fighters in service today. Its integration of the Meteor beyond-visual-range missile and SCALP cruise missile provides unmatched reach and lethality in the region.
Industrial consequences are equally significant. While competitors such as Boeing with its F-15EX, Lockheed Martin with the F-21 variant of the F-16, Saab with the Gripen E, and the Eurofighter consortium have long positioned themselves for the MRFA race, a direct Rafale deal could effectively shut them out. This would generate controversy in the global defense market but provide India with a faster and more predictable procurement track. Dassault’s deeper integration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and private Indian defense firms would also reinforce New Delhi’s ambition to establish a domestic aerospace manufacturing base with export potential.
Geopolitically, this move would mark a new peak in Indo-French defense cooperation. Paris has become one of India’s most trusted strategic partners, supplying not only fighter aircraft but also Scorpene submarines, advanced radar systems, and space technologies. Securing a deal for 114 Rafales would further cement France’s role as a cornerstone of India’s military modernization, while also balancing New Delhi’s ties with the United States and Russia. For France, it would be the largest overseas order for the Rafale, strengthening its global market dominance and validating its status as one of the world’s most successful fighter exports.
The Indian government now faces a pivotal decision. Proceeding with a government-to-government deal could accelerate force modernization and secure the Air Force’s preferred option, but it also risks criticism for sidelining a competitive process. For the Air Force, however, time is critical, and the rapid induction of a proven aircraft, such as the French Rafale fighter jet, may outweigh the benefits of an open tender. If approved, negotiations could begin later this year, opening the path for one of the most consequential defense procurements in India’s history.
