IAF Chief in France as 114-Rafale Deal Advances

• Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh begins four-day visit to France
• India submits proposal for procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets
• Deal may include production of 94 aircraft in India
• Discussions expected on technology transfer, localisation and defence cooperation

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 3rd June: Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has begun a four-day visit to France amid growing momentum behind India’s proposed acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter aircraft, one of the largest fighter jet procurement programmes in the history of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

According to Defence Ministry sources, India has formally submitted a proposal to France for the procurement of 114 Rafale jets. The French government is expected to respond within the next two to three months with details related to pricing, production capacity and logistics support, following which formal negotiations will begin.

Officials indicated that the deal could be finalised within the next year.

The Air Force Chief’s visit is being viewed as strategically significant, with meetings expected with senior executives of major French defence firms, including Dassault Aviation, manufacturer of the Rafale fighter aircraft, and missile systems company MBDA.

Sources said discussions are likely to cover not only aircraft procurement but also technology transfer, production in India, integration of indigenous systems and long-term industrial cooperation.

The proposed acquisition is being pursued through a government-to-government framework, making high-level political engagement critical to the process. Sources also indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may visit France later this month, with defence cooperation expected to feature prominently on the agenda.

The Indian Air Force currently faces a substantial shortfall in fighter squadrons. Against a sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons, the force presently operates around 29, a gap that has widened following the retirement of ageing aircraft such as the MiG-21.

The proposed 114-aircraft programme is intended to address this capability gap and strengthen India’s air combat readiness.

Rafale has emerged as the leading contender in the competition, aided by the IAF’s experience with the 36 aircraft procured under the 2016 India-France agreement.

A major feature of the proposed deal is the emphasis on domestic manufacturing. Sources said around 94 of the 114 aircraft could be produced in India, while the remaining jets would be delivered directly from France.

Dassault Aviation is expected to partner with an Indian company for local production. The Defence Ministry is reportedly targeting around 50 per cent localisation, enabling the integration of Indian-made systems and weapons into the aircraft.

The project is being viewed as a major boost to the Centre’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives in the defence sector.

India’s existing fleet of 36 Rafale fighters has already been fully delivered and is currently deployed at Ambala and Hasimara air bases.

In addition, India recently concluded a deal for 26 Rafale-M carrier-based fighter aircraft for the Indian Navy.

If the proposed acquisition of 114 additional aircraft is approved, India’s total Rafale fleet across the Air Force and Navy would rise to 176 aircraft, significantly enhancing the country’s air power and operational capability along both the western and northern fronts.

Defence experts believe the presence of established infrastructure, trained pilots and maintenance ecosystems for the existing Rafale fleet would facilitate the smooth induction of additional aircraft into service.