‘Make in India’ Rafales: MoD begins review of Rs 2 lakh crore fighter jet proposal

The Ministry of Defence has received a formal proposal from the Indian Air Force (IAF) to acquire 114 ‘Made in India’ Rafale fighter jets, marking what could become the largest defence procurement in India’s history

According to an ANI news agency report, the aircraft would be manufactured in India by French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation, in partnership with Indian aerospace companies, as part of a major push towards indigenisation under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Valued at over Rs 2 lakh crore, the proposal includes an indigenous content of more than 60%, making it a landmark in both scale and domestic defence manufacturing.

Initial discussions on the proposal have begun within the ministry, and the matter is expected to be taken up by the Defence Procurement Board, chaired by the Defence Secretary, in the coming weeks, added the report.

Once cleared, the deal would surpass all previous defence contracts signed by the Indian government, significantly boosting the IAF’s combat capabilities while strengthening India’s defence industrial base.

“The Statement of Case (SoC) or the proposal for the 114 Rafale jets prepared by the Indian Air Force was received by the Defence Ministry a few days ago and is under consideration of the different wings under it, including Defence Finance. After deliberations, the proposal would then be moved to the DPB, followed by the Defence Acquisition Council,” ANI quoted defence officials as saying.

India’s largest-ever defence deal is set to significantly expand its Rafale fleet to 176 aircraft, as the Indian Air Force (IAF) has already inducted 36 Rafales, and the Navy has ordered 26 more under government-to-government deals.

The move gains momentum following the Rafale’s strong performance in Operation Sindoor, where it outclassed Pakistani and Chinese systems, particularly the PL-15 air-to-air missiles, using its advanced SPECTRA electronic warfare suite.

The Indian-built Rafales are also expected to feature longer-range air-to-ground missiles than the current Scalp variants, which were used effectively against high-value military and terror targets in Pakistan.

To support long-term operations, the French side is planning a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility for M-88 engines in Hyderabad, alongside existing infrastructure set up by Dassault Aviation. Indian aerospace firms, including Tata, are likely to be key partners in the production process.

The IAF’s future fighter fleet will be anchored by Su-30 MKIs, Rafales, and upcoming indigenous platforms, including 180 LCA Tejas Mark1A jets already on order, and a fifth-generation fighter jet planned for induction beyond 2035.

With rising regional tensions, the need for rapid fighter jet induction is seen as critical to maintaining India’s aerial superiority.

With inputs from agencies