India is set to begin talks with France for a major defence deal involving 114 multirole fighter aircraft. These jets will be Rafale fighters, made by the French company Dassault Aviation. The plan is to manufacture a large part of the order in India through a government-to-government (G2G) agreement.
The move comes as the Indian Air Force (IAF) faces a serious shortage of fighter jets. With only 31 squadrons in service against a sanctioned strength of 42.5, the IAF urgently needs to boost its fleet.
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Local Production to Be a Key Part of the Deal
The new Rafale deal will go beyond simple imports. According to sources, Dassault Aviation will set up a final assembly line in India. This will be done in partnership with a major Indian defence firm with experience in aviation.
Some of the jets will be delivered in flying condition directly from France. The rest will be assembled in India. The plan includes large-scale sourcing of parts from Indian suppliers, helping boost local defence manufacturing.
Dassault has always maintained that it would only build a plant in India if the order crosses 100 units. With 114 aircraft now being considered, that requirement has been met.
Rafale Chosen As the Single Vendor
Officials confirmed that the Rafale will be the sole fighter under consideration for this deal. India had earlier bought 36 Rafales in a 2016 agreement, and the aircraft has since become a trusted part of the IAF.
Rather than issuing a global tender for the multirole fighter aircraft (MRFA) project, the government will directly negotiate with France. Sources say that both sides have already discussed the MRFA deal multiple times and are close to finalising the terms.
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Timing Aligns With The Marine Rafale Deal
This new deal comes soon after India approved another Rafale-related agreement. The Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by the Prime Minister, recently cleared a €7 billion contract for 26 Rafale Marine jets for the Navy.
That deal is expected to be signed during the upcoming visit of French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The MRFA discussions could also move forward around the same time.
IAF Needs 35–40 Jets Per Year
The Air Force has been pushing hard for more fighter jets. In February, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh said the force needs at least 35 to 40 aircraft each year. He also highlighted the need for India to focus on co-developing fighters with global companies while also supporting HAL’s Tejas Mk-1A production. With this new deal, India hopes to bridge the gap between demand and supply in its fighter fleet.
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Final Decision Soon
While the deal has not yet been officially signed, all signs point to an agreement in the near future. Once the formalities are completed, India and France are expected to begin full-scale negotiations. If everything goes as planned, this deal will mark one of the biggest defence partnerships between the two countries — and a major step towards building fighter jets in India.
