France submits detailed proposal to India’s request for 114 Rafales

In a significant move towards finalizing the 114 Rafale jet deal, France has presented its comprehensive technical and commercial proposal to India. The estimated initial cost for this agreement stands at approximately Rs 3.25 lakh crore. French authorities have submitted their response to India's request for 114 Rafale multirole fighter jets, which is currently under review by the Indian defense ministry and the Indian Air Force (IAF), according to defense sources.

The Indian delegation will meticulously evaluate the French proposal, particularly focusing on the integration of indigenous missiles like the Astra air-to-air missiles, as per the demands of the Indian government. Upon satisfaction with the response, negotiations regarding the final cost will commence. Upon successful discussions on the deal package and cost, the Cabinet Committee on Security will approve the agreement, leading to the signing of the substantial defense deal between India and France, guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. The Indian government anticipates signing the deal by the end of the year.

Under this proposed deal, 94 out of the 114 fighter jets are expected to be manufactured in India through a partnership between French company Dassault Aviation and an Indian firm as part of the 'Make-in-India' initiative. The remaining aircraft would be delivered in a ready-to-fly condition from France, with the indigenous content of the jets projected to reach nearly 50%.

This deal also includes the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft by the Indian Navy for carrier operations, signed on April 28 of the previous year. The IAF already operates 36 Rafales under the September 2016 intergovernmental agreement.

Upon the acquisition of these 114 Rafale aircraft, India's Rafale inventory could potentially increase to 176 jets. Furthermore, the Indian Navy has expressed its interest in acquiring 31 additional Rafale Marine versions to counter maritime threats, which may raise the total number of Rafales in the country to over 200. The Indo-French MRFA program aims to address the critical capability gap within the IAF and alleviate the dwindling strength of its fighter squadrons, which have dwindled to a concerning 29 from the ideal requirement of 42.5 squadrons necessary to effectively manage a dual-front security challenge from Pakistan and China.