Archive · 6 Aug 2026
₹3.25 Lakh Crore Rafale Deal: 94 Jets Built in India
India wants strong fighter jets to protect its skies.
France makes one of the best fighter jets, called the Rafale.
The two countries are talking about a big deal worth ₹3.25 lakh crore.
In this plan, France would send 20 ready-made jets to India.
The other 94 jets would be built in India by Indian workers.
That means Indian companies like Tata and Larsen & Toubro would help build parts.
If the deal happens, India would have 176 Rafale jets in total.
India's Air Force needs these new planes because its old MiG-21 jets are retiring.
It also needs them because its own Tejas jets are taking longer to make than planned.
France has proposed a ₹3.25 lakh crore deal to supply India with 114 Rafale fighter jets, 94 of which would be built in India.
The first 20 jets would arrive in fly-away condition from France, while the remaining 94 would be built entirely on Indian soil.
Dassault Aviation, Safran, Thales, and MBDA plan major industrial participation with Indian partners, targeting local production of airframe components, engines, radar systems, and precision weaponry.
If approved, the deal could generate roughly ₹1.6 lakh crore in direct business for Indian firms, including Tata and Larsen & Toubro.
The 114 jets would bring India's total Rafale fleet to 176 aircraft as the Indian Air Force retires MiG-21s and faces delays in the LCA Tejas program.
- Who
- France, represented by Dassault Aviation, Safran, Thales, and MBDA; the Indian Air Force, its defense officials and analysts; and Indian firms Tata and Larsen & Toubro.
- What
- A proposed ₹3.25 lakh crore defense deal for 114 Rafale fighter jets, with 94 to be built in India and 20 delivered fly-away from France.
- When
- Not specified in the article; the proposal is currently being examined, and the article references the Rafale's role in Operation Sindoor in May 2025.
- Where
- India and France
- Why
- To strengthen the Indian Air Force as it retires MiG-21 fleets and faces delays in the LCA Tejas program, while boosting domestic defense manufacturing.
- Deal value
- ₹3.25 lakh crore
- Aircraft in deal
- 114 (20 fly-away from France, 94 built in India)
- Airframes built in India
- 94
- Projected business for Indian firms
- ~₹1.6 lakh crore
- French companies
- Dassault Aviation, Safran, Thales, MBDA
- Indian industrial partners
- Tata, Larsen & Toubro
- Total projected Rafale fleet
- 176 (existing orders: 36 Air Force, 26 Naval)
- Weapon systems mentioned
- Meteor, Astra, SCALP cruise missiles