India Could Finalise 114 Rafale Fighter Jet Deal by FY27-End: IAF Chief

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Air Force Day, Singh said negotiations on the price and other key aspects of the proposed Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme were currently underway.

The proposed acquisition, estimated at around Rs 3.25 lakh crore, received Acceptance of Necessity from the Defence Acquisition Council in February 2026. The government has said the majority of the aircraft under the MRFA programme will be manufactured in India.

The proposed procurement is being pursued through a government-to-government framework with France and would significantly expand the Indian Air Force's Rafale fleet. India currently operates 36 Rafale fighter jets acquired under an earlier agreement, while the Indian Navy has separately contracted 26 Rafale-Marine aircraft for carrier operations. The Navy's Rafale-M deal was signed with France in April 2025.

If the 114-aircraft MRFA acquisition goes ahead as proposed, India's overall Rafale inventory across the Air Force and Navy would rise substantially.

Singh also indicated that the IAF could consider an alternative fighter platform if the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme encounters delays. He said Russia had offered its Su-57 fighter aircraft, although no decision had been taken on the proposal.

The Air Chief also highlighted the IAF's requirement to rapidly increase its fighter aircraft numbers. He said the force would need to induct around 36 to 40 aircraft annually over the coming years to address its requirements.

Singh stressed that modernisation would have to include greater use of artificial intelligence and stronger domestic manufacturing capabilities. He also underlined the importance of developing a fighter aircraft engine within India as part of efforts to strengthen self-reliance in defence production.

The proposed Rafale procurement is expected to support the expansion of India's domestic aerospace manufacturing ecosystem. The Defence Ministry has said the MRFA programme would involve significant production in India, aligning the acquisition with its broader push for indigenous defence manufacturing.

At the same time, Singh said the indigenous LCA Tejas Mark 1A programme would continue alongside the Rafale acquisition. He described the Tejas programme as an evolving development effort in which progressively more advanced indigenous radars, weapons and other systems would be integrated.

The IAF chief's comments come as India continues to pursue a combination of foreign acquisitions and domestic fighter development to strengthen its combat aircraft fleet and build greater indigenous capability.