New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh)— In a major development for India’s defence acquisition roadmap, French aerospace manufacturer Dassault Aviation has officially submitted its comprehensive technical and commercial proposal to the Ministry of Defence for the procurement of 114 Rafale multi-role fighter aircraft. The bid comes in response to the formal Letter of Request issued by India under a Government-to-Government framework to bolster the Indian Air Force’s declining fighter squadron strength. The proposed deal, estimated at approximately Rs. 3.25 lakh crore involves extensive local manufacturing and technology transfer under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The submission is currently under rigorous evaluation by the Acquisition Wing of the Ministry of Defence alongside the Indian Air Force. Under the outlined terms, 94 of the 114 jets will be manufactured domestically in partnership with Indian industrial majors such as Tata and Larsen & Toubro, alongside Dassault’s key French partners including engine maker Safran, avionics developer Thales, and missile manufacturer MBDA. The proposal caters to India’s mandatory requirement for 55% to 60% indigenous content, covering airframe assembly, engine production, and avionics technology transfer, while allowing for the direct integration of indigenous weaponry such as the Astra air-to-air missile series.
The acquisition plan envisions inducting an advanced mix of ‘F-4’ and upcoming ‘F-5’ variants equipped with next-generation Active Electronically Scanned Array radars, artificial intelligence-assisted cockpit systems, enhanced self-protection suites, and secure data-link capabilities. With the IAF currently operating 36 Rafales and the Indian Navy having ordered 26 carrier-capable Rafale-M fighters, the new 114-jet procurement would expand India’s overall Rafale fleet to 176 aircraft. Existing Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul infrastructure at Ambala Air Force Station will enable rapid squadron integration once formal agreements are finalized.
