IAF to Seek Initial Acceptance Approval for 114 MRFA Jets in Next 2 Months Amid Dwindling Squadrons and Rising Regional Security Challenges

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is preparing to formally launch one of the world's largest military aviation procurements by seeking initial government approval for the acquisition of 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA).

A proposal for the 'Acceptance of Necessity' (AoN), the first step in the capital procurement process, is expected to be presented to the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) within the next two months, signalling a renewed urgency to modernise the nation's air defence capabilities.

This critical move aims to address the IAF's declining combat fleet. Against a government-sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons required to effectively manage a potential two-front conflict, the IAF currently operates with approximately 31 squadrons.

The retirement of older aircraft like the MiG-21s has further widened this capability gap. The MRFA programme is designed to induct advanced 4.5-generation combat aircraft, providing the operational flexibility needed for air superiority, ground attack, and strategic reconnaissance missions.

The procurement, estimated to be worth between $15 billion and $20 billion, will be pursued under the 'Make in India' framework.

Once the DAC, chaired by the Defence Minister, grants the AoN, the IAF will proceed with issuing a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) to global aerospace firms.

The project places a significant emphasis on the transfer of technology and substantial local manufacturing of the aircraft and their associated systems, aiming to boost India's indigenous defence-industrial base.

A number of the world's leading aviation manufacturers are expected to participate in the competitive bidding process. The potential contenders include:

• Dassault Aviation (France) with its Rafale fighter. The IAF already operates 36 Rafales, which is seen as a significant advantage due to existing infrastructure and pilot familiarity.
• Boeing (USA), which may offer its F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-15EX Eagle II.
• Lockheed Martin (USA) with the F-21, a variant of the F-16 specifically configured for India.
• Saab (Sweden) with the Gripen E fighter.
• The Eurofighter Consortium (UK, Germany, Italy, Spain) with the Typhoon.
• Russia's Rosoboronexport may field the MiG-35 or the Su-35.

While past attempts at a large-scale fighter acquisition have faced significant delays, the current geopolitical climate and the pressing need to maintain a credible deterrent have accelerated the timeline.

Following the AoN, the process of technical evaluations, flight trials, and contract negotiations is expected to take several years, with a final contract likely to be signed around 2028.

Deliveries of the new jets would commence approximately three to four years after the contract is finalised.

The successful induction of these 114 jets is vital for the IAF's force structure. The new aircraft will operate alongside the existing fleet of Su-30 MKIs, the indigenous LCA Tejas, Mirage 2000s, and the current Rafales.

This will create a more versatile and powerful air arm, enhancing India's combat readiness and providing a substantial boost to the nation's aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem for decades to come.

 

[Rishi]

Still not before 2030

 

[Mayank393]

Signing the deal in 2028 seriously? Then the first fighter will only arrive after 2030—what a joke! If we are going for Rafale, then why waste so much time? I think it should be signed by 2026, because 2028 will be far too late

 

[Mc Addy]

I am sure, no body is short sighted, to my opinion,Gripen or Typhoons, may come or may have already.These news have meaning for military planners so have to take it with a pinch of salt. Yes, we might add 18 Rafels, 36 Marine Rafels for sure, but rest will be ready and available and maybe allready there. French are now the most noisy, loud and useless vendors in this world . But we must extract, best anti ship weapons, it got for Rafael and air to ground ammo. No faith left in Rafael.

 

[आक्रोशित युवक]

Not buying su35 in 2016-19 window will still be one of the biggest blunders ever for the iaf

 

[navinbijoy]

Go for Government to Government deal with Russia and France.
Whether SU57/35 / Rafale.

 

[priyanshu3657]

Is we talk about choosing from common sense them su-35 might be the best here because it already shared 70-80 percent commonality with su-30mki and minimum retooling might be required and sukhoi has hinted at double digit production(36-40 units per year)

 

[Randeep]

Procuring Su-35 appears to be the best option since it comes with not just ToT but also the source code, which no other supplier is willing to provide.

 

[RAMACHANDRA K N]

Will Pakistan, China wait for India to equip itself with 4.5 G Jets with weaponry .... to wage the next war ? What a joke ?

 

[aswanth]

I think, by the end of 2028 Indian Airforce become 10th largest Airforce in the world. (Now 4th largest)....... We have no trust in indian Airforce.......only hope in Indian Army and navy they are more advanced than China and Pakistan

 

[Lakshman_322]

Why not go for both Su57 and super sukhoi? India could also partner up for AL-51F-1 development.

Get Rafael for navy, fill up the rest with Su 57!

 

[Doc]

Given the existing political environment and the costs involved, I see two fighters, both Russian as our best bets for our MRFA requirement :-
a) The Su-57 Felon
b) The Su-35 Super Flanker
c) The MiG-35 Fulcrum F

1) First 2 are air-superiority fighters. The MiG is multi-role.
2) All are super-manoeuvrable
3) All come at costs FAR LOWER than the other fighters that went through the selection fly-offs.
4) Both (first 2) come form a trusted defence-partner.
5) All are on offer for local production and full ToT.
6) The MiG-35 has been through the selection process and is very marginally cheaper (3 million USD) than the Su-35. The Su-57 is the most expensive (30-100 million USD)
7) All are twin-engined, affording 'better' power and survivability.
8) The Su-35 is way ahead of the MiG in terms of power - MiG has about 2/3rd power.
9) The Su-35 is bigger and more versatile with a better payload.
10) The Su-35 has almost close to double the range of the MiG : 1,900 nm vs 1,100 nm
11) Cost-wise, though 0.5 Gen older, the Su-35 is a better bet than the Su-57 which is 5th gen.

All in all, the Su-35 fits the bill for MRFA acquisition, based on the many modalities involved.

 

[Foxbat]

Eversince the previous MMRCA project was much talked about for two decades nothing much happened but the actual quantity was shelved and the GoI opted for meagre numbers of Rafael from India's most trusted snd dependent friend France 😄😄. Numerous times AoN and RFP was initiated but the GoI was not keen to spend so the GoI showed no interest. Few years back there was news on acquiring MRFA and several foreign contenders made sa been line to showcase their fighters. Again 114 MRFA fighter project died down without any interest from the GoI because the bureaucrats were more dependent on Tejas Mk1A and Mk2 which they thought will do the magic. Now MRFA project is back in action with a make in India initiatives. If at all this piece of news becomes a reality I am not sure when will it be really. It seems that AoN will be in two months but the deal if it really materialises will only be signed in 2028. Thereafter the delivery of the aircrafts will take place roughly 3 to 4 years after signing the deal on 2028 which is somewhere between 2031 to 2032. I just can't hide my frustration with the Indian bureaucracy flip flop approach and laid back attitude in decision making process.

 

[aksinghal]

I doubt any jet will come before 2030. Our bureaucratic process is so slow and corrupt that it will keep on dragging. Fastest possible deal and delivery is possible with Russia. It will be cheaper too. For rafale, 36 more can be procured and make Tejas 2 formidable....

 

[Capt Mahendra]

IAF and government should go for Su57 with the Russian offer of complete Technology transfer and freedom to incorporate our own advanced Radar as well missiles which would workout a lot of cost savings in the long run at the same Time keeping us ahead with a 5th generation technology. Don't understand why such a serious offer is not accepted and deal finalised without wasting More Time in thinking delays. With the current geopolitical situation of the West still working against us on all fronts why should we still buy their equipment and risk of blackmailing when we need the most. Today non of these countries who are interested only in our money through selling their fighter jets and not sincere in rebutting the rogue Pakistan openly. Should we still trust them with our critical military equipments. Hope the government sees the things in its reality and takes a firm and Fast decision to go for Su57 from our reliable and trusted friend RUSSIA. If they had decided for Su57 by beginning of 2025 itself by now some work would have progressed and the aircrafts would have been inducted on a fast track mode by 2028. Instead of now expecting the lower version being contemplating for procurement and to be available later than 2030.
Modi ji needs to take a call at the earliest in the interest of Bharat instead of wasting More Time by allowing the beurocrates to keep delaying so that we will be driven to a situation for urgent procurement at much higher cost ( cost run) as was the case of Raphael.

 

[Vasugali]

Rafael is too costly and without TOT, source code and expensive AAM/auxiliaries. Also order book is full. So it would be better to consider SU 57 with TOT and source code R37M AAM and limited quantities of Rafaels 50/60 nos. Numbers are also required in case of two front war

 

[Ram1964]

Given the existing political environment and the costs involved, I see two fighters, both Russian as our best bets for our MRFA requirement :-
a) The Su-57 Felon
b) The Su-35 Super Flanker
c) The MiG-35 Fulcrum F

1) First 2 are air-superiority fighters. The MiG is multi-role.
2) All are super-manoeuvrable
3) All come at costs FAR LOWER than the other fighters that went through the selection fly-offs.
4) Both (first 2) come form a trusted defence-partner.
5) All are on offer for local production and full ToT.
6) The MiG-35 has been through the selection process and is very marginally cheaper (3 million USD) than the Su-35. The Su-57 is the most expensive (30-100 million USD)
7) All are twin-engined, affording 'better' power and survivability.
8) The Su-35 is way ahead of the MiG in terms of power - MiG has about 2/3rd power.
9) The Su-35 is bigger and more versatile with a better payload.
10) The Su-35 has almost close to double the range of the MiG : 1,900 nm vs 1,100 nm
11) Cost-wise, though 0.5 Gen older, the Su-35 is a better bet than the Su-57 which is 5th gen.

All in all, the Su-35 fits the bill for MRFA acquisition, based on the many modalities involved.

 

[Ayush Rastogi]

I'm Indian, deepply respecy Gov institutions, but looks like IAF, MOD, GOI are just making a big fun of the acquistions.

===> Back in 2006-2007 IAF,MOD, GOI planned to acquire 126 MMCRA fighters in UPA Regime. After Five years of AON, RFP, testing+planning ,politics between five jets( F16's ,F18's, SAAB Gripen, Eurpofighter Typhoon, Dassualt Avaiation Rafales) two jets were selected==>Rafales and Typhoon.Finally in 2011 , Rafales were selected as MMCRA bidder winner by UPA Gov(DM:A K Anthony)(no:136 built domestically between HAL and Dassault Avaition, price per jet:756 Crores). During 2011-2014 UPA Gov declared , Gov Treasury is exahusted hence no jets can be purchased.
===>UPA Gov made little to no progress for Tejas inductions, Kaveri Engine devlopment was sidelined.

==> Finally in 2014, after the NDA Gov came , seeing the depleting strenght of IAF , the then NDA Gov DM (Manohar Parikar ji) signed a contract to purchase 36 Rafales in emergency condition(Fly away) scrapping the MMCRA deal. Details ( TOT==> no, price per jet==>759 crores, Weapons, maintenance, engine,overhauling==>750 crores. Total Full price per jet ===>1500 crores) . This led a huge poltical drama between Senior leaders of UPA , NDA in 2019-2022 elections. Till 2025 all 36 Rafale Jets inducted==>IAF.
===>Paralley In IAF Sulur Air Base Tejas MK were inducted as 'Tech Demonstations'===>'Flying Daggers' ( No:24-30) as 'Stop Gap's solution.
===>Kaveri engines funds was raised but engine was not fully functional (o/p thrust ration==50KN, required o/p thrust ration==110 KN), GE F404 engines were selected( Contract :98 Tejas MK1A in 2021 b/w MOD, HAL and IAF to fly on GEf404 engines).

Now in 2025 let's not please start the same saga of 18-19 Years. IAF needs :
1) Scrap the 114 MCRA. Acquire 2 Sqaudrons of Rafale, 2 Squadrons of Su57E fighters==>2029. Russia's help in Kaveri Engine development(o/p thrust ration==110 KN) in AMCA==>2032
2) HAL, Private players need to develop 24 Tejas MK1A jets per year:16(HAL)+8(private players) ==98 jets by 2029. Let's siggn addtional contract of 98 Tejas MK1A jets/16 per year ===>2032-2033
3) AMCA protype creation-===>2027. Kaveri Engine induction+weapons+testing+firing+contract sign+induction by 2033.


2033==>36(New Rafales)+36(Su57E)+98(Tejas MKIA)+24(Tejas MK1A Second Series)+18(AMCA).

 

[P2S2]

Go for Government to Government deal with Russia and France.
Whether SU57/35 / Rafale.

Siir teh lall topi ruski phir bhir dill hai hindustani

 

[智子 伊瀬]

I think, by the end of 2028 Indian Airforce become 10th largest Airforce in the world. (Now 4th largest)....... We have no trust in indian Airforce.......only hope in Indian Army and navy they are more advanced than China and Pakistan

In what way is India's army and navy better than China's? Zorawar is still only in testing, while Type 15 has long been a serial tank, Arjun has made about 130 units, while China has 1300 Type 99, many more modern helicopters, drones, missile systems, infantry fighting vehicles and other things. As for the navy, it is enough to compare the number of modern corvettes, frigates, cruisers, submarines, the number of aircraft carriers and air wings.

 

[智子 伊瀬]

Given the existing political environment and the costs involved, I see two fighters, both Russian as our best bets for our MRFA requirement :-
a) The Su-57 Felon
b) The Su-35 Super Flanker
c) The MiG-35 Fulcrum F

1) First 2 are air-superiority fighters. The MiG is multi-role.
2) All are super-manoeuvrable
3) All come at costs FAR LOWER than the other fighters that went through the selection fly-offs.
4) Both (first 2) come form a trusted defence-partner.
5) All are on offer for local production and full ToT.
6) The MiG-35 has been through the selection process and is very marginally cheaper (3 million USD) than the Su-35. The Su-57 is the most expensive (30-100 million USD)
7) All are twin-engined, affording 'better' power and survivability.
8) The Su-35 is way ahead of the MiG in terms of power - MiG has about 2/3rd power.
9) The Su-35 is bigger and more versatile with a better payload.
10) The Su-35 has almost close to double the range of the MiG : 1,900 nm vs 1,100 nm
11) Cost-wise, though 0.5 Gen older, the Su-35 is a better bet than the Su-57 which is 5th gen.

All in all, the Su-35 fits the bill for MRFA acquisition, based on the many modalities involved.

It is better not to mention the MiG-35, it is another modernization of the outdated and pointless MiG-29, it is better to look at the Rafale and Su-57.
MiG could have offered a really interesting MiG-31, but they haven't made it for a long time.

 

[Doc]

I'm Indian, deepply respecy Gov institutions, but looks like IAF, MOD, GOI are just making a big fun of the acquistions.

===> Back in 2006-2007 IAF,MOD, GOI planned to acquire 126 MMCRA fighters in UPA Regime. After Five years of AON, RFP, testing+planning ,politics between five jets( F16's ,F18's, SAAB Gripen, Eurpofighter Typhoon, Dassualt Avaiation Rafales) two jets were selected==>Rafales and Typhoon.Finally in 2011 , Rafales were selected as MMCRA bidder winner by UPA Gov(DM:A K Anthony)(no:136 built domestically between HAL and Dassault Avaition, price per jet:756 Crores). During 2011-2014 UPA Gov declared , Gov Treasury is exahusted hence no jets can be purchased.
===>UPA Gov made little to no progress for Tejas inductions, Kaveri Engine devlopment was sidelined.

==> Finally in 2014, after the NDA Gov came , seeing the depleting strenght of IAF , the then NDA Gov DM (Manohar Parikar ji) signed a contract to purchase 36 Rafales in emergency condition(Fly away) scrapping the MMCRA deal. Details ( TOT==> no, price per jet==>759 crores, Weapons, maintenance, engine,overhauling==>750 crores. Total Full price per jet ===>1500 crores) . This led a huge poltical drama between Senior leaders of UPA , NDA in 2019-2022 elections. Till 2025 all 36 Rafale Jets inducted==>IAF.
===>Paralley In IAF Sulur Air Base Tejas MK were inducted as 'Tech Demonstations'===>'Flying Daggers' ( No:24-30) as 'Stop Gap's solution.
===>Kaveri engines funds was raised but engine was not fully functional (o/p thrust ration==50KN, required o/p thrust ration==110 KN), GE F404 engines were selected( Contract :98 Tejas MK1A in 2021 b/w MOD, HAL and IAF to fly on GEf404 engines).

Now in 2025 let's not please start the same saga of 18-19 Years. IAF needs :
1) Scrap the 114 MCRA. Acquire 2 Sqaudrons of Rafale, 2 Squadrons of Su57E fighters==>2029. Russia's help in Kaveri Engine development(o/p thrust ration==110 KN) in AMCA==>2032
2) HAL, Private players need to develop 24 Tejas MK1A jets per year:16(HAL)+8(private players) ==98 jets by 2029. Let's siggn addtional contract of 98 Tejas MK1A jets/16 per year ===>2032-2033
3) AMCA protype creation-===>2027. Kaveri Engine induction+weapons+testing+firing+contract sign+induction by 2033.


2033==>36(New Rafales)+36(Su57E)+98(Tejas MKIA)+24(Tejas MK1A Second Series)+18(AMCA).

BTW >> it is .....RCA (.......Role Combat Aircraft).
Regards

 

[Doc]

It is better not to mention the MiG-35, it is another modernization of the outdated and pointless MiG-29, it is better to look at the Rafale and Su-57.
MiG could have offered a really interesting MiG-31, but they haven't made it for a long time.

BTW The MiG-31 was PURELY a supersonic interceptor with ZERO dog-fighting ability.
It was difficult to fly at low-levels (I believe due to its poor cockpit visibility; conjecture).
Was a derivative of the Foxbat (MiG-25) which was used by India. This also was a supersonic interceptor made of stainless steel. We flew the recce version, which was phased out some time ago.
The MiG-35 though in the flying evaluations, was turfed out.

 

[P2S2]

BTW The MiG-31 was PURELY a supersonic interceptor with ZERO dog-fighting ability.
It was difficult to fly at low-levels (I believe due to its poor cockpit visibility; conjecture).
Was a derivative of the Foxbat (MiG-25) which was used by India. This also was a supersonic interceptor made of stainless steel. We flew the recce version, which was phased out some time ago.
The MiG-35 though in the flying evaluations, was turfed out.

I would strongly recommend the MIG techniques. It was an efficient upgrading of then technology. It countered aggression competently probably upped the ante. It is a way of thinking that our young designers and creators are begging for. Bande Mataram. Boleh Sonehaal Sat Sri Akal