The Acquisition Wing of the Defence Ministry dispatched the LoR last week to French officials, marking a decisive step in one of the largest defence procurements in Indian history.
According to senior Defence Ministry sources, the arrangement will see 94 of the Rafale jets manufactured in India under a partnership between Dassault Aviation and an Indian company, while the remainder will be delivered directly from France.
This marks the first time Rafale aircraft will be produced outside France, with localisation levels expected to reach around 50 per cent.
The French government is expected to respond to the LoR within two to three months. Negotiations are anticipated to conclude within a year, paving the way for contract signing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit France in mid-June, where the Rafale deal is expected to feature prominently in discussions with French leadership.
India’s fighter squadron strength has been under strain, with the Indian Air Force facing a critical shortfall against its sanctioned numbers. The induction of advanced 4.5-generation-plus Rafales is seen as a vital measure to bridge this gap.
The IAF and Navy have already ordered 62 Rafale aircraft, and the new order will raise the total to 176. With the Navy’s stated intent to induct 31 more, India’s Rafale fleet could exceed 200 aircraft in the coming years.
The Defence Ministry has been working on enhancing the IAF’s capabilities since Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh assumed office in 2024. A comprehensive study under his leadership laid the groundwork for this acquisition.
The Defence Acquisition Council cleared the proposal over four months ago, and the current LoR issuance follows that approval.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh is presently in France and may visit Dassault Aviation’s facilities to review production capabilities. The Defence Secretary has emphasised that this programme represents a landmark in transparency and strategic autonomy.
He highlighted that the deal is backed by a government-to-government agreement, eliminating intermediaries, and granting India full authority to integrate indigenous weapons and systems such as the Astra missile and BrahMos-NG.
The Defence Secretary also noted that the induction timeline is relatively short. The first Rafale Marine aircraft for the Navy are expected to arrive in 2028, followed by Air Force variants around three-and-a-half years later. This accelerated schedule is intended to strengthen India’s air combat capabilities in the near term while indigenous programmes such as the TEJAS MK-2 and AMCA continue to mature.
This procurement is strategically significant, not only for addressing immediate squadron shortages but also for bolstering India’s aerospace industry through localisation. The “Make in India” component of the Rafale programme is expected to generate substantial industrial benefits, with nearly half of the aircraft’s systems and components sourced domestically.
The Rafale deal also underscores India’s long-term ambition to achieve greater defence self-reliance while maintaining strong strategic ties with France. It is a critical step in ensuring operational readiness and sustaining air superiority in the region until indigenous fifth-generation platforms are ready for deployment.
ANI
