India Eyes Acquisition of 114 Rafales to Boost Air Capabilities

India is advancing plans to acquire 114 additional Rafale jets from France as part of a strategic push to bolster its air capability and modernize its fleet. Announced on 11 November 2025, the proposed deal represents one of the largest single-platform fighter acquisitions in the country’s history.

Background: why India is moving now

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has been operating below sanctioned strength of 42.5 squadrons, with current estimates placing it at 29–31 squadrons, largely due to the retirement of older aircraft such as the MiG-21. India’s decision to enlarge its Rafale fleet comes amidst increasing strategic competition with neighboring states, including the Pakistan Air Force and the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Reports of Pakistan acquiring advanced air-to-air missiles and fighters from China have accelerated Indian urgency to maintain technological edge.
India already operates 36 Rafales delivered between 2020 and 2022. Familiarity with the platform gives France’s Dassault Aviation an edge in the negotiations.

Details of the Deal: What’s on the Table

The proposed procurement of 114 Rafales is linked to India’s Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program under a government-to-government (G2G) framework.

Key elements under discussion:

• The Rafale F4 variant is the likely candidate for India, offering advanced sensor-fusion, electronic warfare, and long-range missile integration.
• India is seeking significant localization: the deal would include manufacturing, assembly and component production in India under the “Make in India” initiative.
• A major sticking point is access to source-code level control and modular mission computer integration. India wants to integrate its own weapons (such as the Astra air-to-air missile) and sensor suites, while France is reluctant to fully grant source-code access citing industrial and security concerns.
• The deal would build on existing industrial linkages: earlier agreements saw Dassault and India’s Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) set up production of Rafale fuselage in Hyderabad – the first time such manufacturing would take place outside France.

Strategic Implications

The incoming fleet would enhance India’s capability for both air-superiority and strike roles, with extended range and weapon integration that can operate in high-altitude and maritime theatres. The Rafale brings proven integration with missiles such as the Meteor air-to-air and SCALP/Storm Shadow cruise missile for deep-strike roles.

Dassault Rafale Fighter Jet – Full Specifications

Expert/Policy Perspective

Analysts note that the robustness of the deal lies not just in aircraft numbers but in what they enable: securing India’s two-front conflict doctrine (against China and Pakistan), strengthening industrial autonomy, and deepening defense cooperation with France.
One senior IAF official told Defense Security Asia: “The absence of source-code access represents a significant obstacle to India’s broader defense modernization agenda.”
Policy-makers in New Delhi view this acquisition as a force-multiplier: it addresses immediate squadron shortfall while positioning the domestic defense-industrial complex for future exports and maintenance hubs. On the French side, Dassault sees this as an export milestone and opportunity to embed deeper technology transfer and long-term service agreements.

Closing: Impact and What’s Next

The acquisition of 114 Rafales would mark a turning point in India’s air combat capability and shape South Asian air-power balances for decades. The deal, if finalized, will accelerate squadron strength, enhance deterrence, and underpin India’s industrial ambitions.
Next steps include the Indian government’s Approval of Necessity (AoN) by the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) expected by late 2025, followed by contract negotiations, fly-away deliveries, and local assembly ramp-up. Delays or failure to resolve key issues such as software access could push India to alternatives, but current momentum suggests the Rafale remains front-runner.
India’s neighborhood will pay close attention: Pakistan and China are likely to adjust their force-modernization strategies accordingly. For India, this is not simply an aircraft purchase — it is a strategic investment in future deterrence and industrial self-reliance.