Negotiations between India and France over a proposed $22 billion Rafale fighter jet deal have intensified as New Delhi looks to finalize key defense agreements ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit in February. The discussions center on the Indian Air Force’s plan to procure 114 Rafale aircraft to bolster its combat fleet under the Multirole Fighter Aircraft requirement.
The IAF submitted its acquisition proposal to the Ministry of Defence in September, outlining plans to acquire the fighters through a government-to-government framework. However, the MoD has sought greater clarity on industrial collaboration, particularly regarding local production, indigenous content, and accountability in case of manufacturing delays if the aircraft are built in India.
According to reports, the proposal is expected to gain renewed momentum in the coming weeks, driven by high-level diplomatic engagement. Following approval by the Defence Acquisition Council, the deal would move into price negotiations before being submitted to the Cabinet Committee on Security for final clearance.
The expanded Rafale procurement would build on the 2016 order for 36 jets, which currently form a key component of the IAF’s frontline capability. Additional Rafales are viewed as essential to address the force’s shrinking fighter inventory, following the phased retirement of MiG-21 aircraft and slower-than-expected induction of the Tejas Mk-1A.
As part of the negotiations, the MoD is pressing for the establishment of a full-scale production ecosystem in India. Dassault Aviation has already partnered with Tata Advanced Systems to manufacture Rafale fuselage sections domestically, and further plans include setting up an engine manufacturing facility along with a comprehensive MRO center to support long-term fleet operations.
Officials have also raised concerns over liability and delivery timelines, an issue that previously slowed progress in talks with Dassault. Resolving these industrial and contractual issues is seen as critical to moving the Rafale deal toward final approval and ensuring timely induction into the IAF.
