The Defence Procurement Board (DPB) on Friday cleared the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) proposal to procure 114 French-origin Rafale fighter jets, a move aimed at strengthening the IAF’s combat capabilities amid an acute shortage of fighter squadrons, according to officials familiar with the matter.

The approval by the DPB, chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, paves the way for the proposal to be considered by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), India’s apex military procurement authority. Once the DAC grants its acceptance of necessity (AoN), the deal will then move to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for final approval, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The decision comes as the IAF continues to operate below its authorized strength of 42.5 fighter squadrons, currently maintaining around 30. The addition of 114 Rafales is expected to provide a major capability boost and fill critical operational gaps in India’s air defense posture. Quicker induction of fighter jets, mid-air refuellers, and Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) systems were among the recommendations of an empowered committee last year aimed at enhancing the IAF’s operational readiness.

Under the model being considered, France will deliver 18 Rafales in fly-away condition, while the remaining 96 jets will be manufactured in India through a partnership between Dassault Aviation and a local Indian firm. The aircraft are expected to have an indigenous content of 30–60%, in line with the government’s Make-in-India initiative. The projected cost of the acquisition is estimated at ₹3.25 lakh crore.

The ongoing discussions with France also focus on localization of Rafale production in India, integration of India-specific weapons, and other operational customizations. The acquisition comes ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India from February 17–19, 2026, during which he will launch the India-France Year of Innovationalongside PM Modi and attend the Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit. Their bilateral meeting is expected to take place in Mumbai on February 17.

The IAF currently operates 36 Rafale fighter jets purchased earlier from France at a cost of ₹59,000 crore. In addition, India ordered 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for the Navy in April 2025, which will operate from India’s aircraft carriers. Deliveries of the Rafale Ms, under the ₹63,000-crore contract, are expected to begin in 2029 and conclude by 2031.

To support maintenance and operational readiness, Dassault Aviation has already established a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility near Noida, under the company Dassault Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul India (DAMROI). The facility, operational since last year, provides MRO services for both the Rafale and Mirage 2000 fleets.

Additionally, Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) announced a partnership in June 2025 to manufacture the Rafale fuselage in Hyderabad, marking the first time the main body of Rafale jets will be produced outside France. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in India’s Make-in-India initiative, enhancing domestic aerospace capabilities and reducing dependency on foreign supply chains.

The clearance of the proposal also reflects India’s strategic imperative to strengthen its air combat capability in the backdrop of regional security challenges. The induction of additional Rafales is expected to modernize the IAF fleet, provide enhanced firepower, and integrate next-generation weapons and avionics tailored to India’s operational requirements.

As India looks to achieve a balanced and resilient air combat force, the move to manufacture a significant portion of the new Rafales domestically aligns with broader goals of indigenization, technology transfer, and strategic autonomy in defense production. Once fully implemented, the addition of 114 jets will help the IAF bridge capability gaps and maintain air superiority in the region.

With the DPB clearance secured, the next step will be the DAC granting the Acceptance of Necessity, after which final approval by the CCS will formalize the procurement. The phased delivery and local manufacturing are expected to strengthen India’s defense industrial base while enhancing operational readiness across the Air Force.

The partnership with Dassault Aviation also ensures that India can maintain, upgrade, and modernize its fleet locally, leveraging the Hyderabad fuselage production facility and the Noida MRO hub. The combination of imported and indigenously built Rafales represents a long-term strategy for self-reliant defense preparedness while continuing to expand the IAF’s strategic capabilities.

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