Full Breakdown
India Pushes Ahead with 114-Jet Rafale Deal While Tejas Programme Remains on Track
By Drooid · · How we work
New Rafale Deal Negotiations
India is in advanced talks with France to acquire 114 additional Rafale fighter jets under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme. The proposal, submitted by Dassault on August 6, 2026, is being examined by the Defence Ministry. If finalized, the deal—valued at roughly Rs 3.25 lakh crore (US$34-39 billion)—would be the country’s costliest defence contract to date. Eighteen aircraft are expected to arrive in fly-away condition from France, with the remaining 96 to be assembled in India.
Background & Context
India’s first Rafale batch of 36 jets was secured through an intergovernmental agreement on September 23, 2016, followed by delivery of the first five aircraft on July 29, 2020. A separate naval contract signed on April 28, 2025 covers 26 Rafale-Marine jets slated for delivery between 2028 and 2030-31. Concurrently, the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas programme has faced delays: the Mk-1A’s first delivery, originally expected in February 2024, has not entered squadron service, and the Mk-2 prototype has yet to roll out.
Official Statements & Responses
Singh noted that Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)) currently has 27 airframes ready and 11 GE engines delivered, with GE promising four engines per month for the remainder of the year, enabling induction of at least one LCA Mk-1A squadron by year-end.
Data & Statistics
- Proposed Rafale addition: 114 jets (18 fly-away, 96 Indian-built).
- Estimated cost: Rs 3.25 lakh crore (US$34-39 bn).
- Existing Rafale fleet: 36 Air Force jets (signed 2016) + 26 naval jets (signed 2025).
- HAL’s LCA status: 27 airframes, 11 engines received; target of 24 LCAs annually thereafter; aim for 83 LCAs and 97 jets by 2033.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I think [the] Rafale is a proven aircraft. We have already got in-out inventory. It did well in Operation Sindoor. We also have the Naval version on order right now. So we have a good relationship with the French as well. They have agreed to our mandate that they will make it [the Rafale fighter] in India with significant levels of indigenisation.” — India's Defence Secretary — India’s Defence Secretary
- “It enables us to create a second production line for fighter aircraft in the country,” — Rajesh Kumar Singh, DRDO chairman — Rajesh Kumar Singh, DRDO chairman
- “Indigenous radars, incidentally, are very powerful [and] better than the global peers," said Singh.” — Singh. India — Singh
- “The indigenous LCA Tejas Mark 1A programme will continue. It will be a spiral development model where we increasingly perfect it, fitting in indigenous radars that are better than global peers alongside indigenous weapons,” — Rajesh Kumar Singh, DRDO chairman — Rajesh Kumar Singh, DRDO chairman