India will purchase 114 extra Rafales as a part of the Multi-Position Fighter Plane program, with 96 presumably produced regionally.
India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded on Feb. 12, 2026, an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for added Dassault Rafale fighters as a part of the Multi-Position Fighter Plane (MRFA) program, the Ministry of Defence introduced. The MoD didn’t specify what number of plane can be ordered, however native media reported that New Delhi would purchase 114 Rafale jets, with 18 provided purchased off-the-shelf from producer Dassault and the remaining 96 manufactured domestically.
Whereas already an operator of 36 jets of the F3R model, India would introduce with the brand new procurement the more moderen F4 variant. The contract would come with the choice to improve them to the F5 normal, with the prevailing F3Rs upgraded to F4, The Print beforehand reported.
The DAC, headed by protection minister Rajnath Singh, would now ahead the proposal to the Cupboard Committee on Safety (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The event is coming forward of French President Emmanuel Macron’s go to to India on Feb. 17, 2026, and reviews concerning the French and Indian sides hashing out the home industrial modalities have been going round since mid-January.
IAF’s 114 #Rafale MRFA can be a Make in India challenge; #IAF will negotiate for the power to improve it’s software program & combine Indian weapons package deal. pic.twitter.com/4kMxnwrwwS
— Information IADN (@NewsIADN) February 10, 2026
Whereas total late and largely disadvantageous to India, provided that New Delhi is replicating the Rafale course of a second time over, a piece nonetheless views this as the most effective deal within the given state of affairs. The DAC additionally cleared a number of different procurements, together with six extra P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol plane for the Indian Navy, “stand-off floor assault Fight Missiles” and armored platforms for the Military, collectively price round $40 billion.
Cancelled MMRCA deal and 36 Rafales
India’s Rafale acquisition is tied to the unique Medium Multi-Position Fight Plane (MMRCA) deal that started in 2007. In addition to the Rafale, it had seen rivals together with Boeing F/A-18E/F Tremendous Hornet, Eurofighter Hurricane, Lockheed Martin F-16, United Plane Company (UAC) MiG-35 and Saab JAS39 Gripen.
Whereas the Rafale emerged because the winner when it comes to the efficiency, worth, and industrial choices, this deal was cancelled by the federal government in 2015. Part of the reason being that Dassault Aviation had refused to face assure for 108 fighters to be constructed as much as 70% by the Hindustan Aeronautics Restricted (HAL).
There have been additionally disagreements over the offset obligations of investing 50% of the deal’s earnings into India’s protection sectors, largely by way of buy of parts. Sources nevertheless level that such “hiccups are anticipated in big-ticket worldwide protection offers” and might “simply be addressed by way of negotiations.”
Veteran IAF pilots, trade leaders and former MoD officers admit that, had India proceeded with the MMRCA deal, the IAF would have had a big fleet of domestically-built Rafales, supported by an indigenous aerospace ecosystem of spares manufacturing and simple integration of Indian weapons. A fair broader profit would have been turning into a restore, improve and provide hub for Rafales operated by different air forces like Indonesia and Egypt.
Nevertheless, in April 2015, throughout his go to to satisfy then French Prime Minister Francois Hollande, PM Narendra Modi introduced a direct government-to-government deal for 36 off-the-shelf fighters from Dassault Aviation. Then protection minister, the late Manohar Parrikar, later introduced in Parliament in July 2015 that the MMRCA program was cancelled and that the unique Request for Proposal (RFP) had been withdrawn.
Rafales in IAF service
The 36 Rafales at the moment in service have been delivered beginning in mid-2020. They’re operated by the IAF’s No. 17 “Golden Arrows” Squadron at Ambala Air Drive Station (AFS) within the north and the No. 101 “Falcons” Squadron at Hasimara AFS within the far east.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the long-awaited proposal to purchase 114 Rafale fighter jets from France underneath an inter-governmental deal for the Indian Air Drive (IAF), of which 90 jets can be manufactured in India.The DAC has additionally cleared the procurement of six…
— Ramandeep Bajwa (@Ramandeep_Bajwa) February 12, 2026
In April 2025, the Indian Navy additionally selected the Rafale M for its INS Vikrant plane service, with 26 airframes procured, for logistical ease and uniformity in plane varieties with the IAF. Rafales then participated in Might 2025’s Operation Sindoor towards the Pakistan Air Drive, with conflicting claims about losses from either side.
MRFA
IAF has lengthy cited a determine of 42 squadrons (with round 18 jets for every unit) to take care of supreme pressure ranges earlier than a simultaneous “two-front menace” from China and Pakistan. With the retirement of the final two MiG-21Bis squadrons, the quantity fell to 29, and 6 extra squadrons of Jaguar strike plane are on their manner out by 2032.
With this in thoughts, the federal government launched the MRFA program and issued a Request for Info (RFI) in April 2018, in search of 18 jets in a flyaway situation from the profitable bidder. The remaining 96 have been to be manufactured inside the nation by way of a three way partnership between the chosen vendor and a home public or personal firm. The indigenous content material in these jets can be progressively elevated, in a deal roughly estimated at $25 billion.
Formation (7/8) pic.twitter.com/RvCUSyWhfs
— Indian Air Drive (@IAF_MCC) January 26, 2026
The identical rivals for the MMRCA talked about above threw their hat into the ring, with the U.S. and Russia this time additionally providing the F-15EX and the Su-57. It’s unknown whether or not the MRFA aggressive bid stands cancelled and if the businesses have been conveyed the choice.
Nevertheless, the direct inter-buy is believed to have been largely pushed by the IAF, which has highlighted to the federal government technical, tactical, operational familiarity with the Rafale, its superior efficiency, potential for progress and simpler life-cycle administration with the numerous degree of switch of expertise and native manufacturing.
Greatest deal within the present scenario
That is additionally the place issues get ambiguous. That the IAF would have had no less than three Rafale squadrons by now, presumably built-in with the homegrown Astra Mk.1 and Mk. 2 beyond-visual vary air-to-air missiles and possibly even the BrahMos, is a foregone conclusion.
This isn’t to say the worldwide reputational hit in an unstable protection procurement program. Experiences have put the extent of indigenous content material within the deal at 60%, with ANI placing the determine as little as 30% in its January report. Then there are additionally reviews concerning the French resistance with sharing the supply codes for India to change the mission techniques.
#IAF is enterprise joint in-situ air train with #RoyalThaiAirForce (RTAF).The train will improve operational coordination and interoperability between the 2 Air Forces.IAF Su-30MKI, AWACS, AEW&C and IL-78 refuelling plane are taking part within the Ex, alongside… pic.twitter.com/07ampQ0ptx
— Indian Air Drive (@IAF_MCC) February 10, 2026
Then it should be remembered that the most recent Rafale acquisition is a niche filler for the fifth technology Superior Medium Fight Plane (AMCA), that nevertheless hasn’t even received off the drafting board. The LCA Mk2 in the meantime continues to be to enter serial manufacturing, the Mk1As deliveries are delayed, whereas one of many two Mk1 squadrons solely lately attained Preliminary Operational Clearance (IOC).
One other indian airforce rafale seen with meteor missile,this one is extra clear 😁,all of the blackpillers ought to chill now .#rafale #rafaledeal pic.twitter.com/bce8Gx9Ogs
— Chill man (@Brainstormer48) February 14, 2026
The brand new Rafale F4s will include upgraded {hardware}, together with an improved RBE2 XG radar; a extra highly effective encrypted software program outlined radio, CONTACT, from Thales; and compatibility with new weapons just like the SCALP-NG, MICA-NG and a brand new model of the AASM Hammer guided bomb.
The three.25 Lakh Crore Rafale Deal Received’t simply show to be a Drive Multiplier for the Indian Air Drive however can be a Recreation-Changer for the India Navy Aviation and Home Aerospace Ecosystem in Upcoming Years.
>> In 2015 Deal the Value of per Plane was 1,500 Crore that… pic.twitter.com/ZNmlnC9E7S
— BRADDY (@braddy_Codie05) February 12, 2026
Rafale’s engine maker Safran can be organising a Upkeep, Restore and Overhaul (MRO) facility for its M88 engines, anticipated to be operational by late 2026, serving each the IAF’s and the Indian Navy’s Rafales as soon as preliminary deliveries are accomplished by 2029-30.
