The Defence Procurement Board has cleared a proposal to acquire 114 additional Rafale fighter aircraft, marking a major step forward in India’s effort to strengthen its air combat capabilities. The clearance, granted after an initial examination of the case, advances one of the Indian Air Force’s most significant modernisation plans aimed at addressing long-standing operational gaps and preparing for future security challenges.
The proposal is intended to narrow the difference between the Indian Air Force’s sanctioned squadron strength and its current operational numbers, which remain below the required level. The service presently operates a fleet of 36 Rafale aircraft and has argued that expanding this number is essential to maintain credible deterrence and operational readiness. Officials familiar with the process say the Air Force favours the Rafale platform because the necessary infrastructure, training systems and maintenance ecosystem are already in place, allowing for a smoother and faster induction of additional aircraft.
Beyond numerical strength, the plan places strong emphasis on capability enhancement and self-reliance. The proposal includes provisions for integrating Indian-developed weapons and systems onto the aircraft, along with technology transfer arrangements that would support domestic manufacturing. If implemented, these measures would significantly increase indigenous content and help develop advanced aerospace expertise within the country, in line with the broader Make in India initiative.
The Defence Procurement Board, chaired by the Defence Secretary, plays a critical role in evaluating major military purchases before they are escalated for higher-level approvals. With this stage cleared, the proposal will move to the Defence Acquisition Council, which will examine the financial, strategic and operational aspects before taking a final decision. While several procedural steps remain, officials describe the current clearance as an important milestone in what is expected to be a complex and closely scrutinised acquisition process.
If approved in its entirety, the induction of 114 additional aircraft would raise India’s total Rafale fleet to 176, substantially reinforcing the Air Force’s frontline fighter strength. The expanded fleet is also expected to benefit from upgrades tailored to Indian operational requirements, including longer-range air-to-ground weapons compared to those currently in service.
The proposal aligns with a larger manufacturing vision under which the aircraft would be produced in India through a partnership between French manufacturer Dassault Aviation and Indian aerospace companies. Defence planners estimate the programme’s value at more than Rs 2 lakh crore, making it one of the most significant defence manufacturing initiatives undertaken by the country. Officials involved in earlier assessments have indicated that indigenous content could exceed 60 per cent, potentially setting new benchmarks for domestic participation in advanced fighter production.
Momentum for the project has been reinforced by operational assessments of the Rafale’s performance during recent missions, where its advanced electronic warfare and survivability features were credited with providing a decisive edge. Lessons drawn from these operations have influenced the Air Force’s requirements for the India-built aircraft, including enhanced weapon integration and mission flexibility.
As the proposal advances through the remaining approval stages, it is being closely watched as a test case for India’s dual goals of strengthening military capability and expanding domestic defence manufacturing. For the Indian Air Force, which continues to manage evolving regional security dynamics, the outcome is expected to have long-term implications for force structure, readiness and technological self-sufficiency.
