New Delhi has just cleared a massive plan to buy 114 Rafale fighter jets from France, a move that could reshape both its air force and its defence industry – but the final contract is still some way from being signed.
What New Delhi has actually approved
On 12 February 2026, India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granted what officials call an “acceptance of necessity” for 114 Rafale fighters.
India now officially recognises the operational need for 114 Rafale jets, unlocking detailed negotiations worth more than €30 billion.
This status does not equal a done deal.
It means the Ministry of Defence agrees that the Indian Air Force genuinely needs these aircraft under its MRFA (Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft) programme.
The next steps are tougher: working out the detailed contract with France’s Dassault Aviation, including price, local production, technology transfer and delivery timelines, then obtaining final clearance from the powerful Cabinet Committee on Security.
Indian government figures put the value of the Rafale package at about 3.25 trillion rupees – around €30.2 billion.
Some estimates in the French press go slightly higher, closer to €33 billion when all aircraft and associated systems are counted.
The approval also sits inside a wider basket of defence programmes reportedly worth 3.6 trillion rupees, covering additional missiles, anti-tank weapons and P‑8I maritime patrol aircraft.
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All told, New Delhi is pushing through military projects worth nearly $40 billion, signalling a long-term rearmament drive.
Why India wants more Rafales
A serious gap in combat squadrons
At the heart of the decision is a simple numbers problem.
The Indian Air Force currently fields around 29 fighter squadrons.
Its long-declared goal is 42 squadrons to deal with the possibility of simultaneous crises with Pakistan and China.
A typical squadron holds between 16 and 18 combat jets, so New Delhi is short by several hundred aircraft.
Retirement of older MiG‑21s and other legacy types is making that gap more acute.
The MRFA tender, in which Rafale is the front-running candidate, is meant to plug this hole with a modern, multi-role jet able to conduct air superiority, deep strike, reconnaissance and nuclear delivery missions.
Defence planners see the new Rafales as key to maintaining regional air dominance across the full spectrum of conflicts, from border skirmishes to high-intensity war.
Building on existing Rafale experience
India is not starting from scratch with the French jet.
In 2015, New Delhi ordered 36 Rafales for the air force in a government‑to‑government deal with Paris.
Those aircraft, including some customised with Indian-specific weapons and avionics, are now fully in service.
In 2025, India followed up with a separate order for 26 Rafale M naval variants for its aircraft carriers, with deliveries expected by around 2030.
Choosing the same family again brings obvious advantages: common training, shared spares, and fewer surprises in day-to-day operations.
Officials like the fact that pilots, ground crews and planners already know the aircraft, which reduces technical risk and accelerates combat readiness.
Local manufacturing at the heart of the deal
The Rafale’s performance is only half the story.
India has made it clear that industrial and political returns are just as crucial.
Under the government’s “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self‑reliant India) agendas, New Delhi wants big defence contracts to generate local jobs and technology.
According to Indian press reports, just 24 of the 114 Rafales would likely be built in France.
The remaining 90 would be assembled in India with a target of around 50% local content.
New Delhi is pushing for a deal that not only arms its air force but also deepens its own aerospace manufacturing ecosystem.
The industrial plan would probably lean on Dassault’s existing footprint at Nagpur, in the state of Maharashtra, where components and sub‑assemblies linked to earlier Rafale contracts are already produced.
That site, or a similar facility, could evolve into a final assembly line, supplying not just the Indian Air Force but potentially customers in the wider region if export rules allow.
A windfall for France – and a diplomatic signal
For France, the Indian decision promises years of work for Dassault and its partners such as Safran and Thales.
This would be one of the largest export orders in Rafale’s history, reinforcing its status as a successful alternative to US fighters like the F‑16 and F‑35.
The timing also carries clear diplomatic weight.
The DAC’s green light comes just days before French president Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India from 17 to 19 February 2026.
Paris and New Delhi have been edging closer for years, conducting regular joint exercises and coordinating on Indo‑Pacific security.
A mega‑contract for Rafale would anchor that strategic partnership for decades.
How the new Rafales could change India’s air posture
From Ladakh to the Indian Ocean
The Rafale’s strength lies in its flexibility.
Armed with long‑range Meteor air‑to‑air missiles, precision bombs and advanced sensors, it can defend airspace, strike targets hundreds of kilometres away and gather detailed intelligence.
For India, that means more options along the disputed Himalayan border with China, where altitude and harsh weather test pilots and machines.
It also amplifies India’s reach over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, where maritime patrol and deterrence against rival navies are increasingly sensitive missions.
By combining land‑based Rafales with carrier‑capable Rafale Ms, the Indian military aims to create a more joined‑up, “inter‑services” posture across air and sea.
- Air defence missions along the Pakistan and China borders
- Deep strike against high‑value targets and infrastructure
- Maritime strike and support for the navy
- Stand‑off nuclear delivery, under India’s strategic doctrine
- Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in crisis zones
What could still derail the deal
Despite the fanfare around the DAC decision, nothing is signed yet.
The previous Rafale contract in 2015 triggered years of political debate inside India over cost and transparency.
Officials will be keen to avoid a repeat.
Key points still on the table include unit price, scope of technology transfer, level of local sourcing and guarantees on long‑term maintenance.
Local industry partners must also be chosen carefully to deliver quality at scale, without slipping into delays that have plagued some past Indian defence projects.
Currency fluctuations and domestic budget pressures could add another layer of complexity.
Helpful background: what “acceptance of necessity” actually means
For readers unfamiliar with Indian procurement jargon, “acceptance of necessity” is a formal milestone inside the Ministry of Defence.
At this stage, the government agrees that a certain capability gap exists and that a specific type of equipment is needed to fill it.
It allows officials to start detailed cost negotiations, issue requests for proposals if needed, and structure the financing plan.
Only after those steps does a contract move to the Cabinet Committee on Security for final political sign‑off.
The gap between acceptance of necessity and an actual contract can range from months to several years, depending on complexity and political will.
Wider implications and possible scenarios
If the Rafale order goes ahead broadly as envisaged, India will field one of the largest Rafale fleets outside France.
That could encourage deeper cooperation on training, joint exercises, advanced weapons and even future aircraft projects such as combat drones or sixth‑generation fighters.
Regionally, neighbours will watch closely.
Pakistan, which relies heavily on Chinese‑built JF‑17s and older F‑16s, may seek further upgrades to keep pace.
China is already investing in stealth fighters and long‑range missiles, so the Rafale buy may feed into a more intense technology race across Asia.
On the economic side, the local manufacturing push could help Indian suppliers climb the ladder from basic assembly to complex systems like avionics, engines or electronic warfare suites.
If that transition works, the Rafale programme might serve as a template for future large‑scale collaborations in areas such as helicopters or transport aircraft.
There are risks too: an over‑ambitious localisation target or political interference in industrial choices could slow deliveries and raise costs.
Yet many in New Delhi see that trade‑off as worthwhile if it leads to a more self‑reliant, export‑capable aerospace sector over the longer term.
