New Delhi

India has formally initiated the process for acquiring 114 Rafale fighter aircraft from France by issuing a Letter of Request (LoR) for a government-to-government agreement estimated to be worth around Rs 3.25 lakh crore.

According to senior Defence Ministry officials, the LoR was sent last week by the ministry's Acquisition Wing to the French government, marking a significant step forward in one of India's largest military procurement programmes. Under the proposed arrangement, 94 of the 114 aircraft are expected to be manufactured in India by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation in collaboration with an Indian industry partner.

Officials said France is likely to respond to the Indian request within the next two to three months. Formal negotiations are expected to continue thereafter, with both sides aiming to finalise the agreement within about a year.

The proposed acquisition is also expected to feature prominently during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's anticipated visit to France in mid-June, where discussions with the French leadership are likely to cover key defence cooperation initiatives.

The move comes as the Indian Air Force (IAF) continues efforts to address a shortage of fighter squadrons. The induction of additional Rafale aircraft is viewed as a critical component of the strategy to strengthen India's air combat capabilities with advanced 4.5-generation fighter platforms.

India has already contracted 62 Rafale aircraft for the Air Force and Navy. If the new order is completed, the total number of Rafales in Indian service would rise to 176. The Indian Navy has also indicated interest in procuring 31 more aircraft in the future, which could eventually push the overall Rafale fleet beyond 200 aircraft.

The procurement follows a comprehensive review conducted by the Defence Ministry under Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh soon after he assumed office in 2024. The assessment focused on measures required to rapidly enhance the operational strength of the Indian Air Force.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the Air Force's proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighters earlier this year, clearing the way for the next stage of negotiations.

Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh is currently visiting France and is expected to tour Dassault Aviation's manufacturing facilities, where the Rafale aircraft are produced.

A key feature of the proposed agreement is the localisation component. For the first time, Rafale aircraft would be produced outside France, with approximately 50 per cent indigenous content planned under the Make in India initiative.

Officials have highlighted several unique aspects of the programme, including its government-to-government structure, the absence of intermediaries, greater transparency, significant domestic manufacturing participation, and the flexibility to integrate Indian-made weapons and systems into the aircraft.

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The programme is also expected to accelerate the induction of advanced combat aircraft into Indian service. Deliveries of the Rafale Marine variant for the Navy are projected to begin in 2028, while the first India-manufactured Rafales for the Air Force are expected to enter service roughly three-and-a-half years from now.