New Delhi: Indian Air Force chief Amar Preet Singh is on an official visit to France as India moves forward with plans to acquire 114 additional Dassault Rafale fighter jets to strengthen its combat fleet and address a shortage of fighter squadrons.
As part of the procurement process, India has issued a Letter of Request (LoR) to France seeking details for the proposed acquisition. During his visit, Air Chief Marshal Singh toured facilities of Dassault Aviation, the company that manufactures the Rafale aircraft.
The visit comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to France later this month for the G7 Summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. Defence officials expect discussions on the fighter jet deal to feature prominently during the visit.
According to defence sources, around 90 of the proposed 114 aircraft could be manufactured in India through a partnership between Dassault Aviation and an Indian company, while the remaining jets would be delivered in fly-away condition. If finalised, it would mark the first time Rafale fighter aircraft are produced outside France with significant local manufacturing content.
The proposal received clearance from the Defence Acquisition Council earlier this year. Once France responds with pricing, delivery schedules and support details, India is expected to issue a formal Request for Proposal, followed by negotiations between the two sides. The final agreement will require approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security before the contract can be signed.
India currently operates 36 Rafale fighter jets, while the Indian Navy is preparing to induct 26 carrier-based Rafale-M aircraft in the coming years.
Officials say the new deal could include nearly 50 per cent indigenous content. India is also seeking access to key aircraft integration documents that would enable the future incorporation of indigenous weapons systems such as the Astra and variants of the BrahMos missile, further enhancing operational flexibility and self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
