Key Highlights

• Timeline: Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said the 114-Rafale MRFA deal is likely to be finalised by the end of FY27.
• The size: The acquisition is estimated at about ₹3.25 lakh crore, India's largest-ever defence purchase.
• Rafale fleet: Once concluded, India's total Rafales would reach 176, including the IAF's 36 and the Navy's 26 Rafale-M.
• The shortfall: The IAF fell to 29 fighter squadrons after retiring the MiG-21 last year, against a sanctioned 42.
• Other options: Russia has offered Su-57 jets, but no decision has been taken.

India is likely to finalise the deal for 114 Rafale fighter jets by the end of this financial year, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said on Saturday, at a press conference ahead of Air Force Day.

He said price negotiations and other key issues for the multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA) acquisition, estimated at about ₹3.25 lakh crore, are under way. India cleared the proposal in February under a government-to-government framework with France, nearly two decades after the plan was first rolled out.

What 176 Rafales Would Look Like

Why It Matters: The Squadron Gap

The urgency comes from a long-standing shortfall. When the IAF retired its last MiG-21 squadrons in September 2025, its fighter strength fell to 29 squadrons, well below the sanctioned 42, a target that has never been met. With each squadron having 16 to 18 jets, that gap translates into roughly 200 to 230 aircraft.

Seen against that, 114 Rafales would form about six squadrons, a big boost but still not enough on its own to close the gap. That is why the IAF chief said the force needs 36 to 40 new aircraft every year over the next few years.

Tejas Continues Alongside

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said in September that the Rafale deal would help India set up a second fighter production line and boost indigenisation, while the LCA Tejas Mk1A programme continues.

The IAF has ordered 180 Tejas Mk1A jets from HAL, but deliveries have been delayed mainly due to late supplies of GE F404 engines. That delay is one reason a large Rafale order has become so important.

Su-57 and the AMCA Question

Singh said the IAF could consider another platform if the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme faces delays. "Russia has offered us Su-57 jets, but no decision has been made on it," he said.

He stressed that India must develop its own fighter jet engine, and called for "an AI-augmented force," saying self-reliance is crucial for combat readiness.

The Bottom Line

The 114-Rafale deal is meant to fill a gap that has grown over years of delays. If finalised by March 2027, it would mark India's biggest defence purchase ever, but the IAF's real challenge will be matching it with steady deliveries of indigenous jets.

With inputs from IANS.

Key Highlights

• Timeline: Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said the 114-Rafale MRFA deal is likely to be finalised by the end of FY27.
• The size: The acquisition is estimated at about ₹3.25 lakh crore, India's largest-ever defence purchase.
• Rafale fleet: Once concluded, India's total Rafales would reach 176, including the IAF's 36 and the Navy's 26 Rafale-M.
• The shortfall: The IAF fell to 29 fighter squadrons after retiring the MiG-21 last year, against a sanctioned 42.
• Other options: Russia has offered Su-57 jets, but no decision has been taken.

India is likely to finalise the deal for 114 Rafale fighter jets by the end of this financial year, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said on Saturday, at a press conference ahead of Air Force Day.

He said price negotiations and other key issues for the multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA) acquisition, estimated at about ₹3.25 lakh crore, are under way. India cleared the proposal in February under a government-to-government framework with France, nearly two decades after the plan was first rolled out.

What 176 Rafales Would Look Like

Why It Matters: The Squadron Gap

The urgency comes from a long-standing shortfall. When the IAF retired its last MiG-21 squadrons in September 2025, its fighter strength fell to 29 squadrons, well below the sanctioned 42, a target that has never been met. With each squadron having 16 to 18 jets, that gap translates into roughly 200 to 230 aircraft.

Seen against that, 114 Rafales would form about six squadrons, a big boost but still not enough on its own to close the gap. That is why the IAF chief said the force needs 36 to 40 new aircraft every year over the next few years.

Tejas Continues Alongside

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said in September that the Rafale deal would help India set up a second fighter production line and boost indigenisation, while the LCA Tejas Mk1A programme continues.

The IAF has ordered 180 Tejas Mk1A jets from HAL, but deliveries have been delayed mainly due to late supplies of GE F404 engines. That delay is one reason a large Rafale order has become so important.

Su-57 and the AMCA Question

Singh said the IAF could consider another platform if the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme faces delays. "Russia has offered us Su-57 jets, but no decision has been made on it," he said.

He stressed that India must develop its own fighter jet engine, and called for "an AI-augmented force," saying self-reliance is crucial for combat readiness.

The Bottom Line

The 114-Rafale deal is meant to fill a gap that has grown over years of delays. If finalised by March 2027, it would mark India's biggest defence purchase ever, but the IAF's real challenge will be matching it with steady deliveries of indigenous jets.

With inputs from IANS.