Finally, Decks Cleared for the IAF to get 114 Additional Rafales

After Prime Minister Modi’s June 2026 visit to France, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reportedly initiated the process to acquire 114 Dassault Rafale fighter jets for the IAF (Indian Air Force). In the process, decision has been taken for an outright purchase of 22 Rafales ex-France while the remaining 92 will be manufactured within India with progressive indigenous content. The IAF has sought a minimum of 40 percent indigenous content to start with for the proposed 92 Rafale F4 fighter aircraft. The localisation requirement is expected to progressively increase, with the final batch of aircraft achieving 60 percent indigenous content, marking one of the highest localisation targets ever sought for a foreign fighter programme in India.

According to the report, these requirements have been spelt out in the Letter of Request (LoR) that India sent to the French government in late May as part of the negotiations for the Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme. France is expected to submit its formal response by September, in line with the stipulated timeline for replying to the Indian request. Further, the localisation roadmap reportedly reflects India’s broader objective of strengthening its domestic aerospace manufacturing ecosystem while reducing long-term dependence on imported components. Achieving such localisation levels would require the transfer or establishment of manufacturing capabilities for a significant number of aircraft structures, systems, avionics, wiring, mechanical assemblies and potentially selected mission equipment through partnerships with Indian public and private sector companies.

In addition to local manufacturing of the new fighters, the IAF has also reportedly proposed upgrading its existing fleet of 36 Rafale F3-R aircraft to the enhanced Rafale F4* configuration. Such an upgrade would allow the entire Rafale fleet to operate with common mission systems, software standards and enhanced combat capabilities, simplifying logistics, maintenance and operational planning.

The Rafale F4 standard represents a major evolution of the aircraft’s capabilities. Rather than focusing solely on aerodynamic improvements, the new configuration emphasises network-centric warfare, significantly enhancing connectivity between aircraft, airborne assets and command-and-control networks. The upgrade includes new satellite communication links, improved intra-flight data links, next-generation communication servers, software-defined radios and enhanced mission software that together improve collaborative combat operations.

These capabilities are also designed to support France’s long-term Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme by ensuring that the Rafale can seamlessly operate within highly connected, multi-domain combat environments alongside future unmanned systems and advanced sensors.

According to the report, if India and France conclude negotiations and sign the agreement by early 2027, deliveries would begin with the first 22 aircraft supplied in flyaway condition from France. Deliveries are expected to commence from 2030 onwards, while subsequent aircraft would increasingly be manufactured in India as indigenous production capability expands.

The proposed localisation plan is expected to play a crucial role in determining the final structure of the programme. Beyond meeting the IAF’s operational requirements, the project has the potential to generate substantial work for India’s aerospace industry through technology transfer, supply chain development and long-term maintenance support in the global market. It could also lead to India making a 5th gen version of the Rafale in the years to come.

The undersigned has always maintained that India should follow three-pronged strategy for pursuing its fighter force planning to get the best from all quarters. Apart from India’s own fighter programmes such as LCA Mk1A, LCA MK2 and 5th generation AMCA all of which should be continued with the greatest sense of commitment and resolve, India could also imbibe the unfolding French Rafale and the Russian Su-57 programmes.

During his last visit to India, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to supply and jointly produce the Sukhoi Su-57 5th generation stealth fighters in India. Moscow has promised full technology transfer and full freedom to India to integrate its own weapon systems on the aircraft such as astra air-to-air missile and other air-to-ground weapons. India, it may be recalled, had walked out of the programme earlier citing inadequacies in the design but since then the programme has adequately matured to merit a 5th generation fighter label. The aircraft would give interim capability to the IAF to counter PLAAF and PAF’s China supplied J-20/J-35 fighters to Pakistan till India’s own AMCA programme fructifies.

In the final analysis, it must be clear that India needs to follow a multi-pronged approach to rebuild its fighter force to the approved levels of 42 squadrons, equipped with state-of-the-art 4+/5th generation aircraft to acquire necessary deterrence against our adversaries. As it stands, a combination of LCA/AMCA variants, Rafales 4 (&5) and Su-57 combination – all produced indigenously to ensure self-reliance (atm-nirbharta) would fit the bill. IAF and all other stake-holders need to work towards it with full (and unshakable) devotion.

— Air Marshal V.K ‘Jimmy’ Bhatia (Retd)