IAF Seeks Fast-tracked G2G Deal for 90 Rafale F4 Jets to Counter Threats Exposed During Op Sindoor

IAF Seeks Fast-tracked G2G Deal for 90 Rafale F4 Jets to Counter Threats Exposed During Op Sindoor


The Indian Air Force (IAF) is strongly recommending a direct government-to-government (G2G) agreement with France for the urgent acquisition of 90 additional Rafale F4 fighter jets.

This strategic push aims to rapidly address the IAF's critically low number of fighter squadrons, a vulnerability that became evident during a recent military engagement, according to official sources.

The proposal seeks to bypass the lengthy global tender process of the long-delayed Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme.

The need for this acquisition was reportedly underscored by the outcomes of "Operation Sindoor," a military operation conducted from May 7-10, 2025, against terrorist bases in Pakistan.

While the existing fleet of 36 Rafale jets was effective in carrying out long-range precision strikes, the operation highlighted the strain on the IAF's limited resources.

The air force is currently operating with only 31 fighter squadrons against an officially sanctioned strength of 42. This number is projected to fall to 29 by September 2025 with the scheduled retirement of the last remaining MiG-21 squadrons.

A direct purchase of 90 aircraft would increase India's total Rafale fleet to 126 jets, fulfilling the original requirement established under the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender in 2007.

This expedited G2G approach is seen as a crucial measure to counter the growing and collusive military threat from China and Pakistan.

Regional security dynamics have shifted with Pakistan's recent induction of advanced Chinese aircraft, including J-10C fighters armed with long-range PL-15 missiles and the reported acquisition of J-35A fifth-generation stealth jets.

The proposed deal is also designed to significantly boost India’s domestic aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem under the “Make in India” initiative.

If approved, the new Rafale F4 jets would be assembled in India. This plan leverages existing infrastructure and partnerships. The Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) facility in Nagpur, which currently produces several Rafale components, is positioned to handle the final assembly of the aircraft.

Further strengthening the domestic supply chain, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has recently been contracted by Dassault Aviation to manufacture entire fuselages for the Rafale.

Additionally, Safran, the French manufacturer of the Rafale's M-88 engines, has expressed plans to establish a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India, with the potential for assembling the engines domestically if the order is confirmed.

This combination of local assembly, airframe production, and engine support would create a comprehensive industrial base for the Rafale in India.

The Rafale F4, the variant sought by the IAF, is a major advancement over the F3-R version currently in service.

It features a more powerful Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, upgraded electronic warfare suites for enhanced protection, and advanced networked warfare capabilities.

The IAF also plans to integrate indigenously developed weapon systems, such as the Astra Mk-2 air-to-air missile and the Rudram series of anti-radiation missiles, onto the platform, making it a more versatile asset for various combat scenarios.

A direct purchase would ensure faster delivery timelines and operational commonality with the 26 Rafale-Marine jets already ordered for the Indian Navy.

The IAF can also utilize its existing airbases at Ambala and Hasimara, which are already equipped to support Rafale operations, to house the new squadrons without significant delays.

However, the proposal faces challenges, including its high estimated cost of around $27 billion. Additionally, integrating Indian weapons will require rigorous testing, and domestic industrial partners will need to rapidly scale up production capacity to meet the demanding delivery schedule.
 
Wow, a very late wake-up from the IAF. By the time 26 Rafale M are delivered, they should have gone for a joint order with 26 Rafale M + 114 = 140 for a much better deal, with sharing of source code too. The IAF should show some urgency in either the MRFA or a G2G deal; nothing has started either way.

Second, if they were so sure about the Rafale platform, then why did they waste the time? Today all 90/114 would have been delivered if the order had been placed even in 2019. Why all this drama of MRFA? They should have negotiated long back. The IAF should have a concrete plan on what to buy.

If this is true, then some contenders may exit from the MRFA, a similar situation like the submarine deal and finally a single-vendor situation. The only thing the IAF should take care of is not to repeat the Mirage-2000 drama.

The Rafale should integrate indigenous as well as third-party sensors, features, and weapons. Autonomy in future upgrades without OEM involvement and getting Meteor/SCALP-EG license production locally under a license. These only two weapons are the major attraction of the Rafale.
 
Don't buy a single Rafale till it gives engine tech and source codes. If Russians give Su-57, it's better to get it. After all, Russians won the Ukraine with Russian weapons only.
 
Then make sure that its engine is also made in India, otherwise it can be delayed in delivery....The best case scenario for IAF is 60 Rafael + 60 SU57 under G2G deal...it will ease IAF pressure regarding 5th gen demand as well...we should fast track all our programmes, especially jet engine...Govt has to take a decision now...why is govt taking too much time to make a decision...this indecision has led us to this problem for the last 2 decades...now for God's sake show some courage and start taking decisions or the problem will become worse and finally septic....
 
It has been 5+ years since the last Rafale from the original order of 36 Rafales were delivered to IAF and 8+ years since we placed the order. We had an options clause for 36 additional Rafales that could have been exercised at 4.5 - 5 Billion dollars compared to the original purchase price of USD 8.8 Billion for the first 36. Basically only the flyaway cost and the logistics package cost. The options price were further tagged to French inflation rate so the deal remained attractive financially. We did not exercise that option. We let it lapse due to in-decisiveness and lethargy since the fighter shortage was already there.

Egypt which purchased 24 Rafales initially, exercised the options clause as it locked in the price for a ~ 6-8 year period.

Now we are going to sign a new contract at 2025 prices for Rafale purchase. We are paying a huge price for our in-decisiveness.
 
Too costly for a 4th Gen Gen fighter plus if you going to spend $20B plus it's better to invest directly in a 5th Gen fighter.
 
IAF should target Chinese J35 and J20 and not J10. Buying a 4.5 gen fighter jet is not a solution to handle 5th gen jets like J35 and J20. It looks like IAF is more worried about J10 than J35 and J20.
 
"Make in India, make for the world." If the Tejas Mk 2 is better than the Rafale, we must go for it. Of course, we need more time and we will have to adopt multiple involvements of research entities; this will cut short the timeline. We know that this will be a risky business, but someone should bite the bullet. We can't trust the West, especially in this kind of geopolitical situation.
 
The philosophy of the Rafale is to be modular and upgradable. Having the source code would only lead to divergence of Indian planes meaning incompatibility with further French upgrades. The planes have modular avionics meaning that it is possible to run Indian specific software inside it without touching the existing one for instance to manage Indian armement. Finally, in modern software, you have a large configuration part out of the software source code. The customer can access this one freely. For instance EW data and tactics, symbology, radar modes,...
 
We should buy 44 Rafale F-4.1 direct from France and Ink deal to make Rafale F5 in India with 100% FDI agreement with France ! India should join France, Japan to make 6th gen fighter jets in future , Safran,Thales,MBDA must set op plants in India to set up entire fighter jet making eco system !
 
No more Russian junk.
The Russian 'junk' dug big holes on Pakistani airfields. Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating for Su 30 MKIs, but that fighter is the best we have got currently. In some aspects, it is better than Rafales, and no other Indian fighter comes close.

After it gets an AESA Radar, datalink, and Gandiva Missile (all Indian), it will become better than Rafales.

Yes, its not as reliable as some other jets, mainly on account on the Engines, and needs a lot of maintenance, but when its airborne, its a beast.
 
India should scrap the MRFA deal completely. By the time we negotiate a deal and when we receive them whether we manufacture/assemble or import them directly then it will take at least 5 years.

By then we would have started to receive more jets from Tejas MK1A jets and Tejas M2 and AMCA would have started their tests and trials.
 
Don't buy a single Rafale till it gives engine tech and source codes. If Russians give Su-57, it's better to get it. After all, Russians won the Ukraine with Russian weapons only.
Russia has not 'won the Ukraine'.
The only reason for Russian successes to date is that Russia has a population of 145 million people. Ukraine has a population of 38 million.
 
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