Defence Ministry nod for buying 114 Rafale fighter jets from France likely this week

February 10, 2026

New Delhi: India’s Defence Ministry is poised to approve a Rs 3.25 lakh crore deal to acquire 114 French-made Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF), officials said, in what would be the country’s largest-ever defence procurement. Formal clearance is expected this week, ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to Delhi.

The proposal will be taken up by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and subsequently placed before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for final approval.

Under the government-to-government agreement with France’s Dassault Aviation, India is expected to procure 18 aircraft in fly-away condition, while the remaining 96 jets will be manufactured in India in partnership with domestic industry, including private sector firms. The deal is also likely to include technology transfer and strategic collaboration aimed at expanding local defence production as part of the government’s “Make in India” initiative.

Once finalized, the acquisition will dramatically expand the Rafale fleet. India already operates 36 Rafale fighter jets in the IAF, with the latest ‘C’ variant delivered in December 2024, and has ordered 26 Rafale-M naval variants for carrier operations in a separate Rs 63,000 crore deal.

The Rafale aircraft — a twin-engine, multi-role combat jet — has been central to the IAF’s modernisation plans, offering advanced avionics and weapon systems. Officials say the expanded fleet would bolster India’s air combat capabilities as regional security dynamics evolve.

The timeline for deliveries and production ramp-up will depend on CCS approval and subsequent contracts with French and Indian partners.