India gave the green light to purchase 114 Rafale fighters under the MRFA (Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft) program, significantly strengthening its combat aviation.
The decision was approved by the Defense Acquisition Council and foresees that 18 aircraft will be delivered ready-made by the French manufacturer, while the other 96 must be produced in the country. The new batch will be the most modern F4 version, with the possibility of upgrading to the F5 standard in the future, while the current F3Rs in service must also be modernized.
The move comes amid efforts by New Delhi to replenish the strength of the Indian Air Force (IAF), which currently operates below the ideal number of squadrons in the face of possible simultaneous threats from China and Pakistan. With the retirement of old aircraft, such as the MiG-21 and, in the future, the Jaguar, the number of units fell to 29, far from the target of 42 squadrons. The acquisition of Rafale is seen as a strategic measure to reduce this gap.
The agreement also marks a new chapter following the cancellation in 2015 of the original MMRCA program, which envisaged extensive local production. At the time, contractual and industrial differences led the government to opt for a direct purchase of 36 ready-made fighters. Now, the plan returns to the idea of large-scale domestic manufacturing, although there are still debates about the actual percentage of national content and the level of technology transfer involved.
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In addition to strengthening the Air Force, the Rafale has already been chosen by the Indian Navy to operate on the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, increasing the standardization of the fleet. The new F4 version will bring improvements in sensors, communications and integration of modern weapons. Meanwhile, national projects such as the fifth-generation AMCA and the LCA Mk2 continue to be developed, making the Rafale a solution considered essential to guarantee India’s operational capacity in the coming years.
Source: The Aviationist | Photo: @RealAirPower1 | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
In the context of the 114 Rafale deal, French media reports that India will not have access to the source code of Rafale’s avionics and EW systems.
This restriction will limit IAF ability to independently integrate certain sensors/weapons without support from French-based OEMs. pic.twitter.com/0qi290FyXj
— Rishav Gupta | 🇮🇳 (@connect_rishav) February 15, 2026
