Defence Procurement Board Clears Proposal to Acquire 114 Rafale Fighter Jets

New Delhi, Jan 2026 : In a major boost to India’s air combat strength, the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) on Friday approved a proposal to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets from French aviation major Dassault Aviation. The move is seen as a critical step towards enhancing the Indian Air Force’s operational capabilities amid evolving regional security challenges.

According to defence sources, the proposal will now be placed before the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which is chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, for further clearance. Once approved by the DAC, the proposal is expected to be taken up by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for final approval.

The Indian Air Force had submitted a formal proposal to the Defence Ministry last year, seeking the induction of 114 additional Rafale fighter jets to address declining squadron strength and to modernise its combat fleet. Sources indicate that India and France could sign the final agreement for the aircraft as early as next month, following completion of the approval process.

The proposed acquisition is expected to be carried out under an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA), ensuring direct government-to-government procurement without intermediaries. This route is aimed at ensuring transparency, timely delivery and streamlined negotiations. The new deal is likely to build on India’s earlier Rafale agreements, which have already strengthened bilateral defence cooperation between New Delhi and Paris.

In April last year, India had signed a significant Rs 63,000 crore agreement with France for the procurement of 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets to enhance the Indian Navy’s carrier-based air power. That deal included 22 single-seat fighters and four twin-seat trainer aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to be completed by 2031.

Alongside aircraft procurement, India has been steadily expanding its domestic aerospace manufacturing base. In June, Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) signed four production transfer agreements to manufacture key sections of the Rafale fighter aircraft fuselage in India. This initiative represents a major step under the ‘Make in India’ programme and aims to integrate Indian industry into global aerospace supply chains.

Tata Advanced Systems is setting up a state-of-the-art production facility in Hyderabad to manufacture critical structural components of the Rafale, including the rear fuselage, central fuselage, front section and lateral shells. The first fuselage sections are expected to roll out in the financial year 2028, with the facility capable of producing up to two complete fuselages per month.

The proposed acquisition of 114 Rafale jets, combined with increased indigenous manufacturing, is expected to significantly enhance India’s defence preparedness and long-term self-reliance in the aerospace sector.