The Defence Procurement Board has approved a proposal to acquire 114 Rafale fighter aircraft, defence sources said on Friday.
If cleared at subsequent stages, the acquisition is expected to help bridge
the gap between the Indian Air Force’s required operational squadron strength and its current levels, the sources told News18.
The Indian Air Force currently operates 36 Rafale fighter jets and remains short of its overall sanctioned squadron strength. The IAF had recommended the aircraft as it is already operating and maintaining the Rafale fleet, the sources said.
The proposal includes the integration of Indian weapons on the aircraft and the transfer of technology for production in the country.
The Defence Procurement Board, which is headed by the Defence Secretary, clears cases before they are forwarded to the Defence Acquisition Council for further approval.
The sources said the latest clearance marks a key step in the acquisition process, though further approvals are required before the deal can move ahead.
If cleared, the deal would bring the total number of Rafale fighter jets in India’s defence fleet to 176.
Proposal under review since September 2025
In September 2025, the Ministry of Defence had begun examining a major proposal from the Indian Air Force to acquire 114 ‘Made in India’ Rafale fighter jets.
That report said the project, estimated to be worth over ₹2 lakh crore, envisaged French defence firm Dassault Aviation working in partnership with Indian aerospace companies.
Defence officials speaking to news agency ANI at the time had indicated that the proposal involved more than 60 percent indigenous content and had the potential to become the largest defence deal ever signed by the Indian government.
At the time, officials said the proposal would be taken up by the Defence Procurement Board before being sent to the Defence Acquisition Council for final clearance, in line with the established defence procurement process.
The proposal comes shortly after Rafale fighter jets were praised for their strong performance during Operation Sindoor, where they reportedly outmatched Pakistan’s Chinese-origin PL-15 air-to-air missiles using their advanced Spectra electronic warfare system.
The new jets to be made in India are also expected to feature longer-range air-to-ground missiles compared to the Scalp missile, which was used effectively in recent operations.
