New Delhi: India has issued a Letter of Request (LoR) to France for the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force under a government-to-government deal estimated at ₹3.25 lakh crore. The defence ministry’s acquisition wing sent the request to the French government last week, initiating the next phase of one of India’s largest defence procurements.
The Defence Acquisition Council, headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh, had accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the deal in February.
French authorities are expected to respond within two to three months, with negotiations likely to be concluded within a year.
Under the proposal, 94 aircraft are to be manufactured in India by Dassault Aviation in partnership with an Indian company, while the remaining jets will be delivered in fly-away condition from France.
The Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, is currently in France and is expected to visit Dassault Aviation facilities as well as missile manufacturer MBDA.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also scheduled to visit France this month, with the Rafale deal expected to figure in discussions with French leadership. The aircraft will be equipped with indigenous weapons systems, although the source code will remain with France.
India has opted for 4.5-generation Rafale fighters despite offers from the United States and Russia for fifth-generation platforms, including the F-35 and Su-57.
The move comes amid a decline in the Indian Air Force’s squadron strength to 30, against a sanctioned strength of 42. Induction of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mark 1A, intended to replace the retired MiG-21 fleet, has been delayed by over a year.
The Indian Air Force currently operates 36 Rafale jets, while the Indian Navy has placed orders for 26 aircraft.
The proposed multi-role fighter aircraft acquisition is expected to enhance the Air Force’s operational capability across conflict scenarios and strengthen its deterrence capacity.
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