India has taken an important step to strengthen its air force by finalising a Letter of Request (LoR) to France for the purchase of 114 Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft. The deal is expected to be worth around Rs 3.25 lakh crore.
The LoR is an official government-to-government request under an Intergovernmental Agreement. It is expected to be sent to France in the coming weeks, starting negotiations for what could become India’s largest-ever fighter aircraft purchase programme.
Under the proposed deal, nearly 90 of the 114 Rafale jets will be manufactured in India through a partnership between Dassault Aviation and an Indian company as part of the government’s Make in India initiative.
The remaining aircraft will be supplied directly from France in fly-away condition. Some reports suggest that 92 jets could be built in India, while 22 would be delivered from French production facilities.
Boost for India’s Defence Industry
The programme is expected to include around 50 per cent indigenous content. This would provide a major boost to India’s aerospace and defence manufacturing sector and support the government’s goal of increasing self-reliance in defence production.
Strengthening Air Force Capabilities
The purchase is aimed at improving the operational readiness of the Indian Air Force (IAF) as regional security challenges continue to evolve.
The Rafale is considered one of the world’s most advanced multi-role fighter aircraft. It can carry out a wide range of missions, including air combat, ground attacks, reconnaissance and strategic deterrence operations.
Stronger India-France Defence Ties
The agreement is expected to significantly strengthen the IAF’s combat capabilities while further deepening defence and strategic relations between India and France.
The project is also likely to become one of the largest defence manufacturing initiatives ever undertaken in India.
First published on: Jun 02, 2026 08:42 AM IST
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