IAF Pushes for 40 Direct Rafale Acquisition from France to Boost Squadron while Long-term Indigenous Tejas Gains Momentum

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is reportedly pursuing the acquisition of 40 additional Rafale fighter aircraft directly from France, signalling a move to rapidly enhance its operational strength.

According to recent information cited by the Bharat Shakti portal, the IAF has made a formal request through a government-to-government channel with French manufacturer Dassault Aviation.

If approved, this purchase would significantly bolster the existing fleet of 36 Rafales inducted between 2020 and 2022, bringing India's total inventory of these advanced jets to 76.

This potential acquisition aims to address the IAF's immediate need to increase its number of fighter squadrons, which currently stands at 31 against a sanctioned strength of 42.

Opting for a direct government-to-government agreement, similar to the €7.87 billion ($8.56 billion) deal concluded in 2016 for the initial 36 jets, allows the IAF to bypass the lengthy timelines associated with competitive tendering processes, ensuring quicker delivery of the aircraft.

However, this focus on acquiring more Rafales directly introduces fresh uncertainty regarding the long-delayed Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme.

The MRFA aims to procure 110 jets under the "Buy Global – Make in India" policy, involving significant technology transfer and local production. This tender, valued potentially over $20 billion, has seen minimal progress since a Request for Information was issued in 2018, despite attracting interest from global defence firms including Dassault, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and the Eurofighter consortium.

Recent speculation, including an April 10 report by The Print, even suggested a possible government-level deal for 110 Rafale F4 variants, potentially manufactured locally, though questions persist about the extent of indigenous involvement versus assembly.

The current proposal for 40 Rafales is also a scale-back from earlier reports in 2024 which suggested the IAF was seeking 90 additional units to reach an original planning figure of 126. Complex requirements for technology sharing and establishing robust local production lines under the MRFA framework remain significant hurdles.

Furthermore, manufacturer constraints, such as Dassault's reported production rate limitations and existing export orders to countries like Indonesia, could affect delivery schedules to India unless a substantial domestic manufacturing plan is realised.

Parallel to these considerations, the IAF is demonstrating a strong commitment to its indigenous fighter programmes. State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is expected to sign a contract soon for 97 additional Tejas Mk1A fighters, supplementing the 83 already on order. HAL is concurrently expanding its production capacity to deliver these aircraft more rapidly.

Furthermore, ambitious plans are in place for the next-generation Tejas Mk2, with the IAF intending to procure at least 110 units, potentially rising to 200. The first flight of the Tejas Mk2 is anticipated by March 2026, with squadron service planned around 2028-29. The increasing momentum of the Tejas programme directly influences the perceived urgency and scale of foreign fighter acquisitions.

Should the Ministry of Defence greenlight the purchase of the 40 additional Rafales, the IAF would field four squadrons of the type. While boosting capability, this number remains lower than the seven squadrons originally planned under the earlier Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) effort, which eventually led to the first Rafale deal.

Logistically, concentrating future acquisitions on Rafales and the indigenous Tejas series could streamline maintenance and training for the IAF, which currently operates a diverse inventory including Russian Su-30 MKIs and MiG-29s, French Mirage 2000s, and Anglo-French Jaguars.

This move would also align with a reported long-term strategic objective to diversify India's defence hardware sources, gradually reducing its historical reliance on Russian equipment over the coming decades, a consideration potentially heightened by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

 

DRDO Developing Airborne Megawatt Laser Weapon for Defence Against Regional Tactical Ballistic Threats

US Vice-President Vance urges India to Grant greater market access, buy more American energy and defence hardware

[R. Singh]

Form a squadron with 12 Rafales three will make up ! Buy 48 Rafale F-4 and 48 F-35 JSF !

 

[Ammoman]

I am just wondering how is 40 aircrafts going to solve the critically depleting fighter squadrons in IAF to 31 squadrons to required ideal numbers to 42 ? The IAF requires 114 MRFA to boost the numbers to a considerable level but this meagre numbers are negligible to the 114 required critically. Probably this 40 aircrafts is to make the IAF contented with for now. There will be no more remaining MRFA procurement in the future. The chinese are increasing their fighter aircrafts in a rapid pace to face off with IAF. They are building new and developing existing air bases to larger and equipping them with advanced technology defence systems close to India's borders. Whereas we are still moving in much slower pace and smaller scale. I am pretty sure that the bureaucrats are not interested in acquiring 114 MRFA, not at all. They are putting all their high hopes, focus and interest in anticipation of Tejas Mk1A and Mk2 to happen to solve the stopgap in fighter squadrons. But the important question is when will these Mk1A and Mk2 aircrafts will happen to the required numbers to compliment the stopgap?

31 or 42 are all pie in the sky numbers. It comes down to how powerful the weapons packages are. It doesn't take many squadrons if they have the ability to neutralize the enemy before they even use the fighter jets.