Rafale Reloaded: India Clears Rs 3.25 Lakh Crore Plan to Induct 114 More Fighter Jets

In one of the largest defence procurement moves in recent years, India has cleared a ₹3.25 lakh crore proposal to acquire 114 additional Rafale fighter jets, significantly strengthening the Indian Air Force’s combat capability amid evolving security challenges.

The approval marks a major milestone in India’s long-term military modernisation strategy and reinforces defence cooperation with France.

What Has Been Approved?

The proposal was cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The Council granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), which formally allows the programme to move into detailed technical, financial and contractual negotiations.

The clearance is part of a broader defence push, with total approvals touching approximately ₹3.60 lakh crore across the three armed services.

What Does the Rafale Deal Include?

Under the approved framework:

• 114 Rafale fighter jets will be procured.
• 18 aircraft will be delivered in fly-away condition from France.
• Around 90 aircraft will be manufactured in India.
• The fleet will include 88 single-seat and 26 twin-seat variants.

Once completed, India’s total Rafale fleet will rise to 176 aircraft, including:

• 36 Rafales already in service with the IAF.
• 26 Rafale-M jets ordered for the Indian Navy.
• 114 new aircraft under the current programme.

The aircraft are manufactured by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation.

Why Is This Deal Significant?

1. Bridging Squadron Gaps

The Indian Air Force currently operates around 30 squadrons, significantly below its sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons. With ongoing security challenges along both western and northern borders, strengthening air power has become a strategic necessity.

The additional Rafales are expected to enhance operational readiness in the near to medium term.

2. Make in India Push

A major portion of the aircraft will be built domestically under the “Make in India” initiative. The local manufacturing component is expected to involve Indian private sector firms in collaboration with Dassault Aviation.

This move aims to:

• Boost domestic aerospace manufacturing
• Increase technology transfer
• Strengthen India’s defence industrial ecosystem
• Generate high-skilled employment

Why Rafale?

The Rafale has emerged as a central pillar of India’s air combat capability. Already operational with the IAF, it is considered a highly versatile multi-role fighter.

Key features include:

• Advanced radar and sensor systems
• Superior electronic warfare capability
• Long-range strike profile
• Compatibility with advanced weapon systems

Notably, the aircraft is equipped with:

• Meteor beyond-visual-range missile
• SCALP cruise missile

These capabilities give the IAF significant long-range precision strike power.

Strategic Context: Why Now?

India’s fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) remains under development. Meanwhile, the indigenous HAL Tejas MkIA production line is still scaling up.

In this context, additional Rafales are seen as a crucial interim reinforcement until indigenous platforms mature and enter full-scale operational service.

What Happens Next?

With AoN granted, the programme now enters the detailed negotiation phase, which will cover:

• Final pricing
• Delivery schedules
• Industrial offsets
• Technology transfer arrangements
• Domestic production partnerships

Officials indicate that final contractual contours will emerge over the coming months before formal signing.

Other Major Defence Approvals

Alongside the Rafale clearance, the DAC also approved several high-value proposals:

For the Indian Air Force

• Combat missiles to enhance long-range precision strike capability
• Air-Ship Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite systems for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance

For the Indian Army

• Vibhav anti-tank mines
• Upgrades to T-72 tanks
• Overhauls of BMP-II infantry combat vehicles
• Modernisation of Armoured Recovery Vehicles

For the Indian Navy

• Additional P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft
• Indigenous marine gas turbine-based power generators

For the Indian Coast Guard

• Advanced electro-optical and infrared systems for Dornier aircraft

Together, these approvals reflect a comprehensive modernisation effort across land, air and maritime domains.

India–France Defence Ties Strengthened

The Rafale expansion further cements India–France strategic ties. Defence cooperation between New Delhi and Paris has steadily deepened in recent years, extending beyond aircraft procurement to maritime security, space cooperation and joint exercises.

The latest clearance signals continuity in this partnership and reinforces France’s position as a key defence supplier to India.

The Big Picture

The ₹3.25 lakh crore Rafale decision is not just a procurement exercise. It represents:

• A strategic response to evolving security challenges
• A push toward defence self-reliance
• A bridging solution before next-generation indigenous fighters arrive
• A reinforcement of India’s air superiority posture

As negotiations progress, the deal is expected to shape India’s air power trajectory for the next two decades.

India’s defence modernisation drive has entered a decisive phase, and Rafale is once again at its centre.