India requests 114 Rafale fighters from France in Rs 3.25 lakh crore G2G deal

India's Defence Ministry has issued a Letter of Request to France for a government‑to‑government contract to acquire 114 Dassault Rafale fighter jets, valued at roughly Rs 3.25 lakh crore. Under the proposal, 94 of the jets will be manufactured in India with about 50 % localisation, marking the first time Rafales are built outside France.

The French response is expected within two to three months, with both sides aiming to finalise the agreement within a year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's planned mid‑June visit to France is likely to include discussions on the deal. The addition would raise India's Rafale fleet from the current 62 aircraft to 176, and the Navy has signalled interest in another 31 jets, potentially pushing total numbers above 200. The first India‑built Rafale Marine is slated to arrive in 2028, with Air Force versions to follow about three‑and‑a‑half years later, offering quicker induction and integration of Indian weapons systems.