India set to seal biggest-ever arms deal, 114 Rafale jets for ₹3.25 lakh crore
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India is set to sign its largest-ever defence procurement deal, with the Defence Ministry likely to clear the purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme.
The deal, estimated at ₹3.25 lakh crore, is expected to be approved this week –just ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to New Delhi.
If finalised, the agreement will mark a major boost to India’s combat air power and the government’s Make in India initiative.
Around 100 of the jets are expected to be manufactured in India, involving extensive transfer of advanced fighter aircraft technology and a long-term strategic partnership with France.
India already operates 36 Rafale ‘C’ variants, with the final aircraft delivered in December 2024. In addition, New Delhi has ordered 26 Rafale ‘M’ naval variants in a separate ₹63,000 crore deal, which includes four twin-seat trainers, logistics support, personnel training, and a comprehensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) package.
Delivery of the naval jets is expected by 2030, and they will be deployed on board the aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
The existing Rafale fleet is split between No. 17 Squadron ‘Golden Arrows’ at Ambala and No. 101 Squadron ‘Falcons’ at Hasimara in West Bengal.
The jets have already seen combat deployment, including during Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam terror attack and in eastern Ladakh. Rafales are believed to have used SCALP air-launched cruise missiles during operations and are equipped with Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles, HAMMER precision strike weapons, and the advanced SPECTRA electronic warfare suite.
Strengthening indigenous manufacturing, India and France last year announced four major production transfer agreements between Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL). Under this arrangement, TASL will set up a state-of-the-art facility in Hyderabad to manufacture key Rafale fuselage sections, with the first components expected to roll out in 2028.
Together, these developments will make India one of the largest Rafale operators globally and significantly enhance the IAF’s air superiority and precision strike capabilities, even as the country continues work on indigenous fifth-generation fighter programmes such as the AMCA.