India’s plan to induct 114 additional Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force has crossed a key milestone, with the Defence Procurement Board reportedly clearing the proposal on Friday.
The board, chaired by Defence Secretary RK Singh, has recommended that the proposal be taken up by the Defence Acquisition Council, headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Final approval will rest with the Cabinet Committee on Security led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Once cleared, the acquisition will be executed under the Medium Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme, enabling the IAF to induct 114 Rafale jets from French aerospace firm Dassault Aviation. The agreement is expected to include access to key source codes, allowing seamless integration of weapons and secure communication systems with aircraft of different origins.
Fleet commonality has emerged as a decisive factor in the proposal’s progress. The IAF already operates 36 Rafale fighters, and officials believe expanding the same platform will reduce training time, simplify logistics, and lower long-term maintenance costs.
The selection has also been reinforced by the Navy’s decision to induct the Rafale Marine variant for aircraft carrier operations, with 26 jets being procured separately. Defence planners see this convergence as a way to streamline support infrastructure across services.
The MRFA programme is expected to include the establishment of a domestic maintenance, repair and overhaul facility, improving operational availability while reducing dependence on overseas support and cutting foreign exchange outflows.
