NEW DELHI– The Indian government has finalised the Letter of Request (LoR) for the proposed acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The document, tied to a programme valued at approximately Rs 3.25 lakh crore, will be sent from New Delhi (DEL) to France within the next few weeks.
The acquisition will become India’s largest-ever combat aircraft deal and is being pursued through a government-to-government framework under the long-pending Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme.
The jets will be supplied by Dassault Aviation, headquartered near Paris (CDG), with the majority of the fleet manufactured in India under the Make in India initiative.
Inside India’s Largest-Ever Fighter Jet Deal
The proposal received Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on February 12, 2026. The clearance was granted ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to India, reinforcing the strategic depth of the India-France defence partnership.
Under the cleared structure, 18 Rafale jets will be procured off-the-shelf in flyaway condition from Dassault Aviation, while the remaining 96 aircraft will be built in India. A portion of the fleet will consist of twin-seat trainer variants. The deal is estimated at nearly $39 billion, placing it among the largest weapons purchases in Indian defence history.
The Letter of Request functions as a formal tender document that lists India’s requirements, technical specifications, and capability expectations.
Once received, France will evaluate the LoR and respond with a Letter of Acceptance (LoA), after which cost negotiations will begin. Final clearance will require approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Make in India and Industrial Partnership
The procurement framework places strong emphasis on domestic manufacturing and technology transfer.
Tata Advanced Systems Limited is expected to set up a production facility in Hyderabad to manufacture key structural sections of the fighter, including the lateral shells of the rear fuselage, the complete rear section, the central fuselage, and the front section.
The first fuselage segments are projected to roll off the manufacturing line in 2028. Four landmark production transfer agreements between Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems, announced in mid-2025, form the industrial backbone of the upcoming MRFA contract.
Closing the Squadron Strength Gap
The Indian Air Force currently operates 29 fighter squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42. The shortfall has grown more pressing as threat perceptions rise along India’s western and northern borders.
The MRFA programme is intended to bridge this gap and modernise the IAF’s ageing combat fleet.
India already operates 36 Rafale aircraft, delivered between 2020 and 2022 under the 2016 government-to-government agreement. These are based with No. 17 Squadron “Golden Arrows” at Ambala Air Force Station in Haryana and No. 101 Squadron “Falcons” at Hasimara Air Force Station in West Bengal, covering the western and eastern fronts respectively.
Combat Capabilities of the Rafale
The Rafale is a twin-engine, omni-role fighter capable of air superiority, deep strike, nuclear delivery, and reconnaissance missions.
It is equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, advanced avionics, and the Spectra electronic warfare suite.
The aircraft can deploy a wide array of precision-guided munitions, including the Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, the SCALP long-range cruise missile, and the Hammer stand-off strike weapon.
Indian Rafales have already seen operational deployment, including missions in Ladakh and during Operation Sindoor in May 2025.
Strategic Outlook for India-France Defence Ties
The 114-jet acquisition follows the Rs 63,000 crore deal signed in April 2025 for 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for the Indian Navy, intended to operate from carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. Together, the two contracts position France as one of India’s most significant long-term defence partners.
The MRFA decision is also expected to deepen cooperation in aircraft engines, avionics, weapons integration, and joint development projects.
By selecting the Rafale through a direct intergovernmental route, India bypasses competitors such as Boeing’s F-15EX, Lockheed Martin’s F-21, Saab’s Gripen E, and the Eurofighter Typhoon that had been positioned for the MRFA competition.
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