The deal, if cleared, would become the largest defence procurement in India’s history

To replenish its depleting fighter jet fleet and bolster the domestic aerospace industrial ecosystem, the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) is likely to soon consider a major proposal from the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets, featuring substantial indigenous content.

The proposal, estimated to be worth over ₹2 lakh crore, has already been submitted by the IAF and is under examination by various departments within the Ministry of Defence, including the Defence Finance Division.

Once initial scrutiny is complete, it will be placed before the DPB, headed by Defence Secretary, followed by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, for final approval. After that it would go to the Cabinet Committee on Security for Union Government’s nod.

The deal, if cleared, would become the largest defence procurement in India’s history and a significant milestone for the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

The Rafale jets, to be manufactured in India by French aerospace firm Dassault Aviation in collaboration with Indian firms, are expected to include more than 60 per cent indigenous components, sources in defence establishment said.

MRO facility

As part of the industrial collaboration, Dassault is also planning to establish a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for the Rafale’s M-88 engines in Hyderabad, further deepening the aerospace ecosystem in the country.

The new batch of 114 Rafales would add to the 36 jets already inducted by the IAF, while the Indian Navy has also placed orders for 36 Rafale Marine variants under a government-to-government deal. With the latest procurement, India’s total Rafale fleet could rise to 176 aircraft.

Regional security

The move gains urgency amid increasing regional security concerns and follows the Rafale’s successful performance in Operation Sindoor. The Indian-built Rafales are also expected to feature longer-range air-to-ground missiles than the currently deployed Scalp missiles.

India’s future air combat force structure is set to be anchored around Su-30 MKIs, Rafales, and domestically developed fighter aircraft. The country has already placed orders for 180 LCA Tejas Mk1A jets and plans to induct indigenous fifth-generation fighter aircraft in large numbers after 2035.

The proposed Rafale acquisition is being seen as both a strategic necessity and a critical boost for India’s efforts toward self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

Published on September 12, 2025