Gulistan News Desk
India is poised to move closer to acquiring 114 Rafale fighter jets from France, with the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) likely to clear the proposal ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit later this month, sources said.
Officials said the DAC, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is expected to meet in the coming days to grant Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the multi-billion-dollar programme. The Defence Procurement Board, led by the Defence Secretary, had already cleared the proposal last month, pushing the process towards formal negotiations.
If approved, the deal would rank among India’s largest-ever fighter aircraft procurements, with an estimated value of around Rs 3.25 lakh crore. The move comes as the Indian Air Force (IAF) grapples with an acute shortage of fighter squadrons, operating only about 29 squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42, amid rising threats along both the western and northern fronts.
According to sources, the plan envisages the purchase of 114 Rafale jets, with 18 aircraft to be procured in fly-away condition, while the remaining fleet would be manufactured in India. Nearly 80 percent of the aircraft are expected to be produced domestically, with indigenous content likely to reach up to 60 percent under the Make in India framework.
Under the proposed configuration, the IAF would induct 88 single-seat and 26 twin-seat variants. French manufacturer Dassault Aviation is expected to partner with Indian private sector firms for local manufacturing and assembly.
Defence planners consider the Rafale a key force multiplier for the IAF. Already operational in the Indian fleet, the aircraft has demonstrated strong performance due to its advanced sensors and long-range strike capabilities. Armed with weapons such as the Meteor beyond-visual-range missile and SCALP cruise missile, the Rafale significantly enhances India’s offensive reach.
Officials also cited increasing strategic coordination between Pakistan and China, along with shifting regional security dynamics, as major factors driving the urgency of the acquisition.
“Once the DAC grants approval, the programme will move into detailed technical and commercial negotiations, with the final contours of the deal expected to emerge over the coming months,” officials familiar with the matter said.
