India and France are working toward concluding a major defence agreement for the purchase of 114 additional Rafale fighter aircraft, with the two sides targeting a possible finalisation during a proposed meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in February, according to official sources. India’s long-standing plan to expand its Rafale fleet has taken a significant step forward after receiving clearance from the Defence Procurement Board (DPB), marking the first substantial institutional approval in a deal considered vital for strengthening the Indian Air Force’s operational combat strength.
With the DPB’s approval secured, the proposal will now move to the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which is chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, for further examination and endorsement. Once cleared by the DAC, the process will advance to detailed cost negotiations, followed by final authorisation from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). Each of these stages is crucial before the agreement can be formally signed and implemented.
Sources familiar with the matter said that New Delhi and Paris are keen to use the upcoming high-level interaction between Prime Minister Modi and President Macron as an opportunity to bring the negotiations to a close. Such a development would inject renewed momentum into the prolonged discussions surrounding the expansion of India’s Rafale fleet and signal a strong commitment by both countries to deepening their strategic and defence partnership.
India and France have intensified discussions on a follow-on Rafale acquisition in response to growing concerns within the Indian Air Force about the steady decline in its fighter squadron strength. These talks are expected to accelerate further in the lead-up to President Macron’s scheduled visit to India next month, as both sides look to align strategic objectives with urgent operational requirements.
The renewed push for additional Rafale aircraft comes at a time when the Indian Air Force’s squadron numbers have reached critically low levels. The force currently operates only 29 fighter squadrons, far below the authorised strength of 42.5 squadrons deemed necessary to effectively respond to a potential two-front conflict involving China and Pakistan. Typically, each squadron comprises around 16 to 18 aircraft, making the current shortfall a serious concern for national defence planners.
This situation has been exacerbated by the retirement of the ageing MiG-21 fleet last year, which further reduced the Air Force’s available combat assets. The drawdown of these legacy aircraft has widened the gap between required and available fighter strength, placing additional pressure on existing squadrons.
Although the long-delayed Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme, which also envisages the induction of 114 modern fighter jets, remains the officially planned solution, it has been held up due to procedural and administrative delays. As a result, the Rafale is increasingly being viewed as the fastest and most practical option to plug immediate operational gaps and stabilise squadron numbers in the near term.
A defence source noted that while a final decision will be taken only after the MRFA proposal is formally placed before the DAC, the Air Force has clearly conveyed an urgent operational need for additional Rafales. The objective is to halt the continuing decline in fighter squadrons and ensure that combat readiness is not compromised during this transitional period.
Any expanded Rafale deal is also expected to strongly align with the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. India has already signed a contract for 24 Rafale-M aircraft for the Navy, which now serves as an important reference point in terms of pricing, contractual structure and delivery timelines for a possible follow-on order for the Air Force.
Defence industrial cooperation between Indian and French companies is also gaining momentum. Tata Advanced Systems Limited has entered into a partnership with Dassault Aviation to manufacture key sections of the Rafale fuselage at a facility in Hyderabad. The first set of these components is expected to be produced by the financial year 2028, with the plant having the capacity to scale up production to as many as 24 fuselages per year for both domestic use and global supply chains.
In parallel, discussions are underway on establishing an aircraft engine manufacturing facility in Hyderabad and a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh. If these initiatives materialise as planned, they could eventually localise nearly 60 per cent of the Rafale’s overall manufacturing value within India, significantly boosting domestic aerospace capabilities and employment.
The urgency surrounding the Rafale acquisition has been further intensified by delays in the induction of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A. While the Air Force has already placed orders for 83 Mk1A jets and secured DAC clearance for an additional 97 aircraft, deliveries have been pushed back due to supply chain disruptions, engine availability constraints and challenges in scaling up production.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has publicly expressed concerns over the revised delivery timelines, highlighting that delays in the Tejas Mk1A programme have widened the capability gap created by the phased retirement of older aircraft platforms. According to officials, these setbacks have increased the Air Force’s dependence on interim solutions, such as the induction of more Rafale fighters, to sustain operational readiness and ensure credible air defence capabilities.
In this context, the acquisition of additional Rafale fighter jets is increasingly seen as a critical component of India’s broader strategy to reinforce its air power and maintain a robust and responsive air defence posture.
