France proposes 114 Rafale jets deal for India

France has submitted a detailed proposal to India to supply 114 Rafale fighter jets, officials said, in a package estimated at about Rs 3.25 lakh crore. The offer includes a local assembly component and is being reviewed by the Indian government for alignment with domestic requirements, including compatibility with indigenous missile systems.

Officials said the review is technical in nature and is examining how the aircraft’s avionics and weapons-integration architecture would be configured to work with domestically developed missile systems. The same process is also checking other local specifications that India wants incorporated into the procurement.

Local assembly and delivery split under Make-in-India

Under the submission, 94 of the 114 Rafale aircraft would be produced in India within the Make-in-India framework, officials said. The proposal also includes technology transfer and measures aimed at building a local supply chain tied to the programme.

Officials said the remaining aircraft would be delivered as fully built jets. Alongside the aircraft, the offer outlines programme elements such as training and maintenance, while also detailing plans for developing local suppliers as part of the broader package.

Industrial partnership elements and integration checks

French and Indian officials have described the submission as more than a straightforward purchase, presenting it as a combined procurement contract and industrial partnership, officials said. The proposal’s industrial components are linked to how production work, transfer schedules, and contractor roles would be structured in India.

At the same time, officials said the government’s assessment is focused on whether the Rafale platform can meet integration requirements associated with India’s domestically developed missile systems. That review, they added, is also evaluating avionics needs and weapons-integration standards that would govern how the jets are equipped.

Timetable targets and decision date

Officials said the timetable included in the submission aims for a final agreement by the end of the year. They added that a decision is expected by December 31, 2026.

Officials said that deadline is significant for planning because it would set the sequence for production slots, technology-transfer scheduling, and the timing of integration trials to be conducted with Indian contractors. The government’s decision, they indicated, will therefore shape how quickly the programme moves from review into contracting and industrial execution.