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France has submitted its detailed techno-commercial proposal to India for the acquisition of 114 Rafale multi-role fighter aircraft under the Indian Air Force’s Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme, moving the Rs 3.25 lakh crore deal into the negotiation stage.
According to ANI, the proposal was submitted on July 29 in response to the Letter of Request (LoR) issued by the Ministry of Defence in May. Quoting unnamed sources, the report said the Defence Ministry’s acquisition wing and the Indian Air Force are examining the technical and commercial details before formal government-to-government (G2G) negotiations begin.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of 114 fighter aircraft under the MRFA programme in February, marking the first formal step in the acquisition process.
Under the proposal, French aerospace major Dassault Aviation is expected to manufacture most of the aircraft in India in partnership with an Indian company. Around 20 aircraft are likely to be delivered in fly-away condition, while the remaining fighters will be produced domestically. The proposal also includes plans for greater localisation, integration of Indian weapons and other India-specific enhancements.
The Indian Air Force currently operates 36 Rafale fighters procured from France under a Rs 59,000 crore contract. The aircraft were deployed during Operation Sindoor, India’s precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure and military targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.
India has also signed a separate Rs 63,000 crore agreement with France for 26 Rafale Marine fighters for the Indian Navy. Deliveries under that contract are scheduled between 2029 and 2031.
If finalised, the MRFA programme will be among India’s largest-ever defence acquisitions and is expected to significantly strengthen the Indian Air Force’s combat fleet while expanding indigenous aerospace manufacturing through local production.
Team BharatShakti
