France has submitted its detailed technical and commercial proposal to India for the purchase of 114 Rafale multirole fighter aircraft. The proposed government-to-government deal is estimated to be worth around ₹3.25 lakh crore. The Ministry of Defence's Acquisition Wing and the Indian Air Force (IAF) are currently evaluating the proposal, according to defence sources.

The proposal comes after India sent a Letter of Request (LoR) to France in May this year. It focuses on expanding local manufacturing, increasing technology transfer and improving indigenous content under the programme. These elements are expected to play an important role during the evaluation process.

One of the biggest highlights of the French proposal is its plan to manufacture 94 of the 114 Rafale fighter jets in India. The production will take place with the support of an Indian industry partner. French defence major Dassault Aviation is expected to lead the programme along with MBDA, Safran and Thales.

The local manufacturing plan is expected to strengthen India's aerospace and defence manufacturing sector. It is likely to create significant opportunities for Indian companies, including Tata, Larsen & Toubro and several other domestic defence manufacturers. According to sources, Indian industry could receive business worth nearly ₹1.6 lakh crore through the programme.

The Indian government will carefully examine the proposal before taking a final decision. A major area of focus will be the integration of indigenous weapons into the Rafale aircraft. Officials will specifically assess the possibility of integrating different variants of the Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) with the fighter jet.

The government will also review the level of indigenisation offered under the proposal. India has continued to increase domestic defence production in recent years. The evaluation will therefore look at how much manufacturing, technology and expertise can be developed within the country under the deal.

The proposed purchase aims to strengthen the combat capability of the Indian Air Force. The IAF's squadron strength has declined over the years following the phased retirement of ageing MiG fighter aircraft. The force is also waiting for the induction of indigenous platforms such as the LCA Mk1A and the upcoming LCA Mk2. The new Rafale aircraft are expected to fill this capability gap and improve operational readiness.

The Rafale fighter aircraft was selected by the Defence Ministry in 2012 after a long global competition. Since then, it has become one of the Indian Air Force's frontline combat aircraft. Its advanced capabilities have made it an important part of India's air power.

The Defence Acquisition Council approved the proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets around five months ago. The approval followed a capability enhancement review initiated by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh after he assumed office in 2024. The review examined the Indian Air Force's future operational requirements and the need to strengthen its fighter aircraft fleet.

India has already placed orders for 62 Rafale aircraft for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. If the proposed deal for 114 additional aircraft receives approval, India's total Rafale fleet will increase to 176 aircraft.

The Indian Navy has also expressed its intention to induct 31 Rafale-M fighter jets for carrier-based operations. If this plan also moves forward, the total number of Rafale aircraft in Indian service could reach 200. This would make the Rafale one of the largest and most important fighter aircraft fleets in India's armed forces.