India issues Letter of Request to France for 114 Rafale fighters worth ₹3.25 lakh crore

India issued a Letter of Request to France today for the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter aircraft, advancing one of the country’s largest military aviation procurement programmes. The Defence Ministry’s Acquisition Wing sent the official government-to-government request following clearance from the Defence Acquisition Council, which approved the proposal on 12th February. The deal, estimated at approximately ₹3.25 lakh crore, aims to strengthen the Indian Air Force’s combat capabilities whilst addressing its critical fighter squadron shortage.

France is expected to respond to the request within two to three months with details related to pricing, availability, logistics support, technology transfer, and manufacturing arrangements. Formal negotiations are anticipated to begin after the response, with officials expecting completion within the next year. The programme targets completion by 2026-27, with deliveries potentially commencing around three-and-a-half years after contract finalisation.

Under the proposed programme, 94 of the 114 Rafale jets are planned to be manufactured in India through a partnership between Dassault Aviation and an Indian defence company, whilst the remaining aircraft will be delivered directly from France in fly-away condition. The programme would mark the first time Rafale fighter jets are manufactured outside France, with Defence Ministry sources indicating the project is expected to achieve nearly 50 per cent localisation. A key feature of the proposal is India receiving authority and technical access to integrate indigenous weapon systems onto the aircraft, allowing future integration of Indian-made systems such as the Astra and BrahMos-NG missiles.

The development comes during a period of high-level India-France defence engagement. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh is currently visiting France for discussions with French defence officials and visits to facilities operated by Dassault Aviation and missile manufacturer MBDA. The Rafale programme is also expected to feature prominently during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to France in mid-June as both countries continue to expand defence and industrial cooperation.

The acquisition comes as the Indian Air Force continues to face a shortage of fighter squadrons. The IAF is currently operating around 29 fighter squadrons against a sanctioned requirement of 42.5 squadrons, making additional fighter inductions important for maintaining operational capability. The Indian Air Force currently operates 36 Rafale aircraft acquired under a 2016 agreement with France, whilst India has also ordered 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for the Indian Navy, with deliveries expected to begin in 2028 for carrier operations. If the proposed acquisition is finalised, the total number of Rafale aircraft in Indian military service would increase to 176.

المصدر: Swarajya