India to buy 114 Rafale fighter jets, 80% made in india

In a decisive move to address the depleting squadron strength of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Ministry of Defence is scheduled to discuss a massive ₹3.25 lakh crore proposal this week. The deal for 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) is expected to follow a Government-to-Government (G2G) route with France, ensuring that the majority of these advanced jets are built on Indian soil.

The “Make in India” Blueprint

The current proposal marks a significant shift from previous acquisitions. Unlike the 2016 emergency purchase of 36 fly-away jets, the new 114-jet order is centered on domestic production and technology transfer.

• Domestic Production: Out of the 114 jets, 96 are planned to be manufactured in India (approx. 80%), while the remaining 18 will arrive in “fly-away” condition from France.
• The Tata-Dassault Partnership: Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) is the frontrunner to lead domestic manufacturing.⁶ A dedicated facility in Hyderabad is already being prepared to produce key structural sections, including the fuselage, from 2028 onwards.
• Local Content: While initial indigenous content is pegged at 30%, officials expect this to rise to 60% as the production line matures and Indian-made weapons are integrated.

Why the Rafale? Performance in “Operation Sindoor”

The IAF’s preference for the Rafale has been bolstered by its reported performance in recent regional skirmishes.

1. Electronic Warfare Mastery: The Rafale’s SPECTRA suite reportedly proved highly effective during Operation Sindoor (May 2025), where it successfully countered advanced Chinese-made PL-15 air-to-air missiles.
2. High Serviceability: With a serviceability rate of nearly 90%, the Rafale significantly outperforms other global competitors, including the F-35 and Su-57, in terms of operational readiness.
3. Future-Proofing: The new order will include the latest F4 standard and eventually the F5 variant, which features advanced AI-driven avionics and compatibility with hypersonic weapons.

Economic and Strategic Impact

If cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), this will become the largest defense deal in India’s history.

Conclusion

The decision to pursue a direct G2G deal with France allows the IAF to skip the protracted multi-vendor tender process that has delayed the MRFA program for years. By insisting on 80% domestic manufacturing, India is not just buying a fighter jet; it is building a high-tech aerospace ecosystem that could eventually serve as a regional export hub for Dassault Aviation.