India Prepares for Fast-Tracked Rafale F4 Acquisition with G2G Deal, Contract Signing Expected Next Year

India is reportedly preparing to advance its long-standing Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme by finalising a deal with France for up to 90 Rafale F4 fighter jets.

Sources suggest a decision could be made by the end of 2025, with a formal contract expected to be signed in 2026.

The procurement is anticipated to follow a government-to-government (G2G) framework, a direct agreement between the two nations designed to accelerate the acquisition process.

This move aims to urgently address the declining number of squadrons in the Indian Air Force (IAF) amid heightened security challenges in the region.

The effort to acquire 114 new fighters was re-initiated in 2019 following an emergency purchase of 36 Rafale jets in 2016.

The IAF currently operates with approximately 31 squadrons, which is significantly below its officially sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons required to effectively manage a two-front threat.

The original MRFA tender involved several international competitors, including the American F-21 and F/A-18 Super Hornet, and Sweden’s Gripen. However, the process has faced considerable delays due to complex negotiations over pricing and requirements for domestic manufacturing.

To avoid further setbacks, the IAF is now strongly advocating for a direct G2G agreement for 90 Rafale F4s, which could see the first aircraft delivered between 2028 and 2030.

The Rafale F4 represents the latest and most advanced standard of the French fighter. It features significant upgrades, including a more powerful SPECTRA electronic warfare system and an advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.

The aircraft is also fully compatible with long-range Meteor air-to-air missiles. This acquisition is viewed as a crucial "interim" measure to maintain a combat edge until India’s indigenous fighters, such as the Tejas Mk2 and the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), are fully developed and inducted.

Furthermore, the F4’s ability to be integrated with India’s homegrown BrahMos and Astra missiles ensures seamless operational synergy with the existing fleet.

The Rafale's proven reliability, recently demonstrated in multinational exercises like Tarang Shakti 2024, makes it a preferred choice over a prolonged competitive evaluation.

While the strategic benefits are clear, the potential cost of the deal remains a significant consideration.

With each aircraft estimated to cost between $120 to $140 million, a purchase of 90 jets could amount to over $12 billion, placing considerable strain on the upcoming national defence budget.

However, proponents argue that a G2G deal, similar to the 2016 agreement, could lead to a price reduction of 15-20%.

The agreement is also expected to include a substantial offset clause, mandating that a portion of the contract's value be reinvested into India's defence manufacturing ecosystem through partnerships with companies like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and others.

 

[Mc Addy]

Get off shelf 20 and as planned 26 Marine version , so leading to near 50 , enough to do job for 5 years .

 

[Mc Addy]

Such planes can supress an entire squadron of J10 so we need to get tactics right and optimize the use of wepaons platform so we get maximum servicebility and availability of these jets , rest is okay , all happens in war situations.

 

[Mc Addy]

We must get the latest weapons package for marine version so that 2 jets in tandem can attack and entire carrier group with impunity. The French still withold exocet antiship missile ,Taurus types cruise missiles so must get them in such a deal now and in plenty and of course Bhramos needs integration in these jets . Naval LCA is needed in addition to compliment Rafael , as it need not land on Carrier except refulling or emergency, with additional fuel tanks so that it can refuel the Rafels over sea and use long range air to air missiles like Asstra for enemy air power supression on high seas . if S 400 type system is on coastlines and in Andamans plus Lakshadweep , we can in theory control 600 km sea area and give stress to any one passing by in that range be it Chinese or Americans .Aerostat ballon radars like from Israel , Bhramos ER ng even with small warhead from costal missile Batteries in theory can paint ships in 600 km away and cause panic and if French can give us Puma helicopters along with Rafel in some 40 numbers, they too can carry anti ship weapons and these poping out of Islands can be very difficult to detect and engage as fixed position can be hit anytime .Someone needs to pay attention to cost to sea attack and defence capabilities, creating a 600 km air defence and missile attack system .Then we can reach Pakistan in west and up till Malysia in east, this owning Arabian sea and bay of Bengal .The idea is to put all Navies passing these areas by on alert 24/7 creating headache in 600 km range .

 

[SandeepGupta]

A totally absurd proposal. Instead India must buy 900 Empty Mig 35 with Soloviev D30F6M Engines of Mig 31 for 1.76 Lac Crore and buy another 500 Su57M1 with AL51FP Engines and Back side Radar and Helmet for 1.75 Lac Crore rest Indian Israeli Avionics and Indo Russian Weapons for another 4.1 Lac Crore. These planes be equipped with British Pirate FLIR/IRST and Harm 550Kms Missiles. Total costing will be 7.61 Lac Crore.
Also 300 Hawk 200 AJT will be purchased for 300 Crore per fully loaded plane for 90000 Crore with Honeywell F125 Engine and Indian Israeli Avionics and 2 each Astra Mk 3 Missiles on top left right sides in a loop and MICA 210 Kms Missiles and ASRAAM Missiles i pylon. Hawk can be mDe Mach 12 Capable. Total expenditure will be 8.51 Lac Crore for 40 to 50 Years.

 

[sheevom]

Better buy some Su34,35,Mig 31 for stop gap arrangement. Don't waste public money on Rafael. It seems everyone in MOD,IAF running out of pocket money

 

[indigenous_29]

A totally absurd proposal. Instead India must buy 900 Empty Mig 35 with Soloviev D30F6M Engines of Mig 31 for 1.76 Lac Crore and buy another 500 Su57M1 with AL51FP Engines and Back side Radar and Helmet for 1.75 Lac Crore rest Indian Israeli Avionics and Indo Russian Weapons for another 4.1 Lac Crore. These planes be equipped with British Pirate FLIR/IRST and Harm 550Kms Missiles. Total costing will be 7.61 Lac Crore.
Also 300 Hawk 200 AJT will be purchased for 300 Crore per fully loaded plane for 90000 Crore with Honeywell F125 Engine and Indian Israeli Avionics and 2 each Astra Mk 3 Missiles on top left right sides in a loop and MICA 210 Kms Missiles and ASRAAM Missiles i pylon. Hawk can be mDe Mach 12 Capable. Total expenditure will be 8.51 Lac Crore for 40 to 50 Years.

😂

 

[sreenivasa sarma]

The track record of this Government in matters of defence is exemplary. But there will always be sceptics. Not only in the matter of defence procurement but in building infrastructure in our northern borders the priority given by the Government is commendable . Earlier while terrorists and infiltrators were dictating terms and they used to come to discussion after taking brief from the Pak. Those days are gone. Now with operation sindoor they will think twice. The nation's security is safe in the hands of this Government.

 

[Kris_Uvach]

We must get the latest weapons package for marine version so that 2 jets in tandem can attack and entire carrier group with impunity. The French still withold exocet antiship missile ,Taurus types cruise missiles so must get them in such a deal now and in plenty and of course Bhramos needs integration in these jets . Naval LCA is needed in addition to compliment Rafael , as it need not land on Carrier except refulling or emergency, with additional fuel tanks so that it can refuel the Rafels over sea and use long range air to air missiles like Asstra for enemy air power supression on high seas . if S 400 type system is on coastlines and in Andamans plus Lakshadweep , we can in theory control 600 km sea area and give stress to any one passing by in that range be it Chinese or Americans .Aerostat ballon radars like from Israel , Bhramos ER ng even with small warhead from costal missile Batteries in theory can paint ships in 600 km away and cause panic and if French can give us Puma helicopters along with Rafel in some 40 numbers, they too can carry anti ship weapons and these poping out of Islands can be very difficult to detect and engage as fixed position can be hit anytime .Someone needs to pay attention to cost to sea attack and defence capabilities, creating a 600 km air defence and missile attack system .Then we can reach Pakistan in west and up till Malysia in east, this owning Arabian sea and bay of Bengal .The idea is to put all Navies passing these areas by on alert 24/7 creating headache in 600 km range .

Great wishlist. X’mas is around the corner, Santa Claus is gonna make us happy! 😄

 

[s.k.padmanbhan]

We should avoid buying Russian planes as their effectiveness against western weapons are a suspect. Till MK2 and AMCA is delivered Rafale is the best option considering we have 36 nos and another 26 marine version in the pipeline of delivery. Let us not waste time in discussing other options. Rather we should put our efforts in inducting efficient private players in to manufacturing considering inefficiency of HAL to deliver on time.

 

[Vasugali]

Limited quantities of Rafaels around 36 due to High cost and lack of ToT / would be sufficient to augment the existing 36 nos. and the already ordered 26 Marine Rafaels. Better to consider buying SU 57 with TOT source code and R37M Zircon Hypersonic missiles for defence against China-Pakistan axis. Offensive tactics should be dispensed with till AMCA becomes operational as China has already developed J20 in large numbers. Till then SU57 with R37M and Zircon Hypersonic missiles would enable preemptive strikes against Pakistan and defence against China. Buying 100-120 SU57 would enable positioning 2 squadrons each in either side of Kashmir and 2more in North Eastern states for effectively countering enemy threats

 

[Mc Addy]

Great wishlist. X’mas is around the corner, Santa Claus is gonna make us happy! 😄

French deny us many latest and deadly weapons so must press for them to tilt power balance at sea specially in our favor .

 

[Saktipada Panigrahi]

Immediately fill up the gap with 2-3 squadrons Su -57 - India, Isreal to be install avionics, electronic warfare, radar, BVR missile systems.
Buy 2-3 squadrons of Rafale. Accelerate Tejas Mk2, AMCA development and manufacture.

 

[Doc]

A totally absurd proposal. Instead India must buy 900 Empty Mig 35 with Soloviev D30F6M Engines of Mig 31 for 1.76 Lac Crore and buy another 500 Su57M1 with AL51FP Engines and Back side Radar and Helmet for 1.75 Lac Crore rest Indian Israeli Avionics and Indo Russian Weapons for another 4.1 Lac Crore. These planes be equipped with British Pirate FLIR/IRST and Harm 550Kms Missiles. Total costing will be 7.61 Lac Crore.
Also 300 Hawk 200 AJT will be purchased for 300 Crore per fully loaded plane for 90000 Crore with Honeywell F125 Engine and Indian Israeli Avionics and 2 each Astra Mk 3 Missiles on top left right sides in a loop and MICA 210 Kms Missiles and ASRAAM Missiles i pylon. Hawk can be mDe Mach 12 Capable. Total expenditure will be 8.51 Lac Crore for 40 to 50 Years.

Wise up.
Let's talk sense on this forum.
NO offence intended.

 

[Virochana]

We must get the latest weapons package for marine version so that 2 jets in tandem can attack and entire carrier group with impunity. The French still withold exocet antiship missile ,Taurus types cruise missiles so must get them in such a deal now and in plenty and of course Bhramos needs integration in these jets . Naval LCA is needed in addition to compliment Rafael , as it need not land on Carrier except refulling or emergency, with additional fuel tanks so that it can refuel the Rafels over sea and use long range air to air missiles like Asstra for enemy air power supression on high seas . if S 400 type system is on coastlines and in Andamans plus Lakshadweep , we can in theory control 600 km sea area and give stress to any one passing by in that range be it Chinese or Americans .Aerostat ballon radars like from Israel , Bhramos ER ng even with small warhead from costal missile Batteries in theory can paint ships in 600 km away and cause panic and if French can give us Puma helicopters along with Rafel in some 40 numbers, they too can carry anti ship weapons and these poping out of Islands can be very difficult to detect and engage as fixed position can be hit anytime .Someone needs to pay attention to cost to sea attack and defence capabilities, creating a 600 km air defence and missile attack system .Then we can reach Pakistan in west and up till Malysia in east, this owning Arabian sea and bay of Bengal .The idea is to put all Navies passing these areas by on alert 24/7 creating headache in 600 km range .

The Rafale is.notbas good as it is made out to be. Let France send a few to Fight against Russian Jets & S400. We have Miraj 2000 from from them ready to be replaced just after just 2 decades. And then we have had Mig 21...60 years of superlative service including a F16. Jai Hind.

 

[Doc]

Media has 'leaked' that we are going for the Rafale in a big way - that leak is 'hog-wash' (no offence). Think about the timelines involved in supplying 100 aircraft. Dassault's order-book is 'over-flowing' as it is; so they won't be able to 'slot' us in. We are on the back-foot if we want to licence-produce the Rafale, with impossible conditions detrimental to our interests.

The only sane thing we can do is to go for co-production of the Felon. The Russians are desperate to find a 'world' buyer as it'll boost their standing and their sales.

It's a win-win for us if we choose the Su-57. The terms they are offering are 'class'.

It'd be a major blunder of an acquisition dictated not by strategic needs, but some extraneous factors that would not further our aims. A 4.5 Gen vs a 5th Gen? Does that make horse-sense? And that too on a 'loser's wicket'!!!

 

[bkramji 007]

Very bad to see that i think cancel the deal with rafale only on upgrade rafale f4 version with france because we buy for navy rafale m is about 2500 -3000 crore per plane that is 63000 crore for 26 plane plus maintenance cost and no indian drdo hal also then capable of upgrade and update indian weapon origin and avonices so very bad and expensive but another very excellent deal for iaf given by russia and uac that is su 57 and su 75 with around 400 -650 crore per plane also given by russia full tot sources code transfer with hal license production its excellent work services performance and iaf already familiar with su why govt waste money in this deal nation job creation and work because local manufacture in hal nasik but govt dont care indian tax payer money and iaf fleet which are now decreased due to less plane which are retired from service we go to russia and deal with them su 57 and su 75 check mate now al 51 engine its excellent and also they mig 41 introduced which are very useful for iaf like spy mission and also drdo and isro update settlite service

 

[Doc]

Wait for December when President Putin will be in India.
Expect an announcement on the MRFA then.
Straight from the horse's mouth.
Not any of these red herrings/titbits/morsels/hogwash being floated in media circles.

We need to put our money where our mouth is.
Does it make strategic sense to buy an updated 4.5 Gen fighter instead of a 5th Gen stealth fighter with all the frills attached?
We just can't get a better deal and we still want to throw it away??
If such is the case, we need our collective heads examined !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[P2S2]

French deny us many latest and deadly weapons so must press for them to tilt power balance at sea specially in our favor .

Pumas a possibility but probably has been superseded already. Providing Indonesia with an aircraft carrier group could drastically extend the area and create island launching facilities for our missiles. IOR needs Thai and Indonesian Naval projection in the east. Tanzania, Kenya, UAE in the west. Safety and security is paramount.