India has moved closer to a major overhaul of its air combat capabilities by approving a proposal to purchase and jointly produce 114 Rafale fighter aircraft from France in a deal valued at several billion dollars. The decision is aimed at addressing pressing shortages in the Indian Air Force and strengthening the country’s overall air defense preparedness at a time of growing regional and global security challenges.
According to senior government officials familiar with the matter, India’s Defense Procurement Board gave its approval to the proposal on Friday. The board, chaired by the top bureaucrat in the Ministry of Defense, is responsible for clearing large-scale military acquisitions. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity, as the deliberations are confidential and the process has not yet reached the final contract stage.
Neither the Ministry of Defense nor the Indian Air Force issued an immediate response to media queries, which were sent after regular business hours. However, the approval marks a crucial step forward in what is expected to become one of India’s most significant defense procurement programs in recent years.
If completed, the acquisition would substantially boost the strength and technological sophistication of the Indian Air Force. At present, the service faces a steady decline in the number of operational fighter squadrons, largely due to the aging of aircraft that are predominantly of Russian origin. Delays in replacements and retirements of older jets have widened the gap between the Air Force’s current strength and its sanctioned requirements.
This proposed deal also carries historical significance. In 2015, India scrapped a long-running plan to acquire 126 Rafale fighters after extended negotiations failed to resolve disagreements over quality guarantees for aircraft that were to be manufactured domestically. Instead, India opted for a smaller government-to-government agreement to buy 36 fully built Rafales from France, which are now operational and widely regarded as among the most advanced aircraft in the Indian fleet.
The renewed push for a much larger Rafale program comes as diplomatic engagement between India and France continues to deepen. French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit India next month, according to reports in the Indian media. While no official link has been drawn between the visit and the fighter jet proposal, defense cooperation has become a central pillar of the strategic partnership between the two countries. Although Russia remains India’s largest arms supplier by volume, New Delhi has gradually reduced its reliance on Moscow for military equipment over the past few years. This shift has been influenced by a desire to diversify sources, concerns over supply disruptions, and a broader effort to modernize the armed forces with advanced Western technology. In this context, France has emerged as a key defense partner, particularly in the aerospace and naval domains. A spokesperson for Dassault Aviation, the French manufacturer of the Rafale fighter, declined to comment on the development. Nonetheless, industry analysts view the proposal as a major opportunity for both sides. For France, it reinforces its position as a leading defense supplier to India. For India, it aligns with the government’s push to expand domestic manufacturing and reduce dependence on imports.
Several procedural steps remain before the deal can be finalized. These include detailed negotiations over pricing, delivery timelines, and contractual terms, followed by final approval from the federal cabinet. Only after these stages are completed can a binding contract be signed and production schedules confirmed. Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute indicates that India is the single largest purchaser of French-made military equipment. This underscores the scale and depth of the bilateral defense relationship, which spans fighter aircraft, submarines, helicopters, and other advanced systems. India’s existing fleet already includes 36 Rafale jets, which have been inducted into the Air Force over the past few years. In addition, India signed an agreement in April to acquire 26 naval variants of the Rafale, designed for operations from aircraft carriers. These aircraft are intended to enhance the capabilities of the Indian Navy’s aviation wing.
Under the newly approved plan, the vast majority of the 114 Rafale fighters would be manufactured in India through a joint production arrangement with Dassault Aviation. Only a small number of aircraft would be built in France. Central to the agreement is a comprehensive transfer of technology, enabling Indian industry to play a substantial role in production and long-term maintenance.
Officials said the objective is for the aircraft to eventually incorporate between 50 percent and 60 percent locally produced components. These would include critical elements such as the airframe, avionics systems, and even parts of the engine, once the technology transfer is fully implemented. Indian companies would partner with the French firm to establish manufacturing lines, build technical expertise, and integrate into global aerospace supply chains.
Beyond strengthening air power, the program is expected to have wider economic and industrial benefits. It fits squarely within India’s broader “Make in India” initiative, which seeks to boost domestic manufacturing, generate skilled employment, and develop advanced technological capabilities. Supporters of the deal argue that the long-term gains from technology absorption and industrial growth could outweigh the high upfront costs. In strategic terms, the approval reflects India’s determination to modernize its armed forces and maintain credible deterrence in a complex security environment. With more steps still to be completed, the coming months will be critical in determining whether this ambitious plan translates into a finalized contract and, eventually, a new generation of fighter jets built largely on Indian soil.
