The Indian Air Force (IAF) intends to bypass the international tender process and directly acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets from France under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program, AeroTime News reported, citing The Times of India. The procurement would follow a government-to-government (G2G) model, with the IAF planning to submit a request for an “Acceptance of Necessity” (AoN) to the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) by October 2025 — the first key step in India’s defence procurement process. The final decision will be made by the Indian government.
India currently operates 31 fighter squadrons of 16 to 18 aircraft each, significantly fewer than the approved strength of 42.5 squadrons required to address simultaneous threats from Pakistan and China. With the retirement of the last MiG-21s next month, the number will drop to a historic low of 29 squadrons. The need for new aircraft became even more evident after Operation Sindoor in May 2025, when Rafales carried out strikes on targets in Pakistan. Islamabad claimed it had shot down six Indian aircraft, including three Rafales, a claim New Delhi denied.
According to The Times of India, the IAF argues that direct procurement would be more cost-effective and logistically efficient than an open international competition, as the Ambala and Hasimara bases are already prepared to host additional squadrons of the same type. However, negotiations face hurdles, including India’s demand for access to the Rafale’s source code to integrate domestic weapon systems — a condition approached cautiously by French companies Dassault, Safran, Thales, and MBDA.
Industrial cooperation between France and India on this aircraft type is already deepening. In June 2025, Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems signed manufacturing transfer agreements that will see complete Rafale fuselages produced in Hyderabad for the first time outside France. Production is expected to begin in fiscal year 2028 with a capacity of up to two fuselages per month. In parallel, talks are underway on the joint development of a powerful new engine for India’s future AMCA multi-role fighter, planned to enter service around 2035.
AeroTime also reports that Rafales will enter service with the Indian Navy from 2028, following its order for 26 Rafale M carrier-based versions for the INS Vikrant. Proponents argue that operating the same fighter type in both the air force and navy would simplify pilot training, reduce maintenance costs, and ease spare parts logistics.
The Indian Air Force previously announced that other contenders for the MRFA program, besides the Rafale, include the Lockheed Martin F-21, Saab Gripen E/F, Boeing F-15EX, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Russia’s MiG-35 and Su-35. India, however, has ruled out acquiring the F-35A due to a trade dispute with the US, while discussions with Russia are ongoing over the joint production of 50 to 60 Su-57Es.
If concluded, the deal would be the largest export contract in the history of Dassault Aviation, significantly enhancing India’s combat capabilities while further strengthening its strategic partnership with France.
