New Delhi: To address the shortage of fighter aircraft in the Indian Air Force (IAF), India has decided to purchase Rafale fighter jets from France. The French defense website Avions Legendaires has made several claims regarding this deal. It states that India is going to buy the most advanced version of the French Rafale fighter jet. It further claims that this agreement between India and France will be signed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India in February. The deal will involve the purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets, which will be manufactured in India under the Make in India initiative.
India to receive delivery of 90 new Rafale F4 fighter jets
The report further states that the agreement between India and France will include the delivery of 90 new Rafale F4 fighter jets to India in the short and medium term. In addition, the 36 Rafale fighter jets currently with the Indian Air Force will be upgraded to the F4 variant. This upgrade will be similar to the upgrade of the existing variants of the French Air Force and the French Navy to the F4 variant. The report states that this will be the first phase of the contract. The second phase will be a medium- and long-term contract, which will include a batch of 24 Rafale F5s, which will be manufactured in France by Dassault Aviation.
The Rafale F5 issue is still unresolved
According to French media reports, some issues between India and France regarding the F5 Rafale are still unresolved. There are obstacles regarding whether India can upgrade its newly delivered Rafale F4s to the F5 standard itself. It is also unclear whether the older Rafale F3s, which will be upgraded to the F4 standard, can also be upgraded to the F5 standard. This matter is not yet entirely clear.
Emmanuel Macron’s India Visit
French President Emmanuel Macron will visit India in February, where he will participate in the AI Impact Summit. The summit will run from February 16th to 20th, and during this time, an agreement between India and France regarding the Rafale fighter jets is expected to be signed. According to a report by news agency ANI, India and France are finalizing a deal worth ₹3.25 lakh crore for 114 Rafale jets. This deal would be worth more than $36 billion. However, French media has stated that the exact price of the deal has not yet been officially disclosed, but they claim it will be so large that it will boost France’s GDP by a few percentage points.
The multi-role Rafale jets, known for their capabilities in air superiority, ground attack, and reconnaissance missions, will help address the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) squadron shortages amidst regional security challenges.
The formal contract is expected to be signed by the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027, making India a major Rafale production hub through technology transfer, although essential software elements will remain under French control. This follows India’s purchase of 36 Rafales in 2016, which have since been inducted into service.
French media has also reported that the Indian Air Force has effectively used the Rafale fighter jets against Pakistan, and the confidence of Air Force officials in the Rafale has increased significantly.