India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Thursday approved the proposal to purchase 114 Rafale fighter jets from France. The deal is estimated to be worth approximately ₹3.25 lakh crore.
The proposal will now be sent to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for final approval. The deal could be finalized during French President Emmanuel Macron's three-day visit to India from February 17-20.
The proposal was approved by the Defence Acquisition Board on January 16. According to the Ministry of Defence, the purchase of new Rafale jets will strengthen air defense and border deployment capabilities.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the committee headed by Rajnath Singh also approved proposals for combat missiles and air-ship-based high-altitude pseudo-satellites. The total value of these deals is ₹3.60 lakh crore.
₹7.8 lakh crore allocated for defense budget
The Ministry of Defense has been allocated ₹7.8 lakh crore in the Union Budget 2026-27, representing 14.67% of the total budget. Of the ₹2.19 lakh crore allocated for modernization, ₹1.85 lakh crore has been allocated for capital procurement, an increase of approximately 24% compared to the previous fiscal year.
The deal will be made under the Make in India initiative.
This deal will be made under the Make in India initiative. Dassault Aviation will manufacture these aircraft in collaboration with an Indian company. Dassault recently increased its stake in Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) from 49% to 51%. Anil Ambani's Reliance Infrastructure is also a partner in this joint venture.
Dassault will integrate Indian weapons, missiles, and ammunition into all 114 Rafale jets and provide secure data links, allowing the aircraft to connect with Indian radar and sensor systems.
The company will also provide technology transfer (ToT) for airframe manufacturing. Engine manufacturer Safran and avionics company Thales will also be part of this process. After the technology transfer is complete, the aircraft are expected to have 55 to 60 percent indigenous content.
The Air Force placed a request in September 2025
The Air Force submitted a request to the Ministry of Defense for 114 additional Rafale jets in September 2025. The Air Force already has 36 Rafale aircraft, while the Navy has ordered 26 marine variant Rafale.
A Rafale training and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) center is already operational at Ambala Airbase. The Air Force has the necessary infrastructure, spare parts, and trained staff to immediately induct two squadrons (36–38 aircraft).
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