Archive · 3 Oct 2026
India Likely to Finalise Rafale Fighter Deal with France by FY27-End
India is discussing a plan to buy 114 Rafale fighter jets from France.
Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said the deal could be finalised by the end of the financial year if the plans stay on track.
The price and other important details are still being discussed.
The proposed purchase is estimated to cost about Rs 3.25 lakh crore.
If the deal is completed, India would have 176 Rafale aircraft in total, counting jets already used by the Air Force and ordered by the Navy.
Singh said the Air Force needs 36 to 40 aircraft each year in the coming years.
Russia has offered India Su-57 jets, but India has not decided whether to buy them.
Singh also said India wants a more self-reliant, AI-augmented air force and needs to make fighter engines domestically.
Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said India may finalise its proposed deal for 114 Rafale jets by the end of the financial year if plans proceed in time.
Price negotiations and other key issues remain under discussion; the acquisition is estimated at about Rs 3.25 lakh crore.
India cleared the proposal in February under a government-to-government framework with France.
If concluded, the deal would bring India's Rafale inventory to 176 aircraft, including Air Force jets and Navy Rafale-M aircraft already ordered.
Singh said the Air Force needs 36 to 40 aircraft annually, while a Russian offer for Su-57 jets remains undecided.
- Who
- India, represented by the Indian Air Force and Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, is pursuing the deal with France.
- What
- India is negotiating a proposed purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets.
- When
- The deal may be finalised by the end of the financial year, identified in the headline as FY27.
- Where
- The proposed government-to-government deal is with France.
- Why
- The plan was developed to strengthen the Indian Air Force's combat capability and expand India's Rafale fleet.
- Proposed purchase
- 114 Rafale fighter jets
- Estimated cost
- About Rs 3.25 lakh crore
- Potential timeline
- By the end of the financial year, if plans materialise in time
- Negotiation status
- Price negotiations and other critical issues are under way
- Projected Rafale inventory
- 176 aircraft if the deal is concluded, including 36 Air Force Rafales and 26 Rafale-M jets ordered by the Navy
- Air Force annual requirement
- At least 36 to 40 aircraft in the next few years
- Russian offer
- Russia has offered Su-57 jets; India has made no decision
