India to order 40 more Rafale fighters from France
India is preparing to sign a new contract with France for the purchase of 40 additional Rafale fighter jets to compensate for the shortage of combat aircraft and avoid delays in the selection of a new multi-role fighter.
Here's What We Know
According to Bharat Shakti, the agreement on the second tranche of the Rafale purchase will be signed on 28-29 April 2025. It will be considered a "fast track" MRFA-plus deal and will run in parallel with the contract for the supply of deck-mounted Rafale for the Indian Navy.
The new procurement was caused by delays in the MRFA (Medium Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft) programme, which was supposed to provide the Indian Air Force with a modern multi-role fighter aircraft with a high level of localised production. Due to the difficulties with the implementation of this programme and the lack of aircraft in combat squadrons, India decided to return to a proven solution.
The Dassault Rafale. Illustration: Dassault
Currently, the Indian Air Force operates the Rafale in two squadrons and is considering strengthening its naval aviation with a deck-mounted version of the fighter. The additional fighters are expected to improve logistical interoperability between the armed forces and reduce the maintenance burden on different types of equipment.
Cooperation with French companies Dassault Aviation and Safran is expanding, which could become a viable alternative to the complex and slow MRFA programme. The purchase of 40 new Rafales will temporarily stabilise the situation in the fleet, which currently falls short of the target of 41 combat squadrons required to deter Chinese aircraft.
India purchased the first batch of 36 Rafale aircraft under an intergovernmental agreement signed in September 2016 worth €7.87 billion. All but one of the aircraft were delivered to the customer by the end of 2022. The fighters have proven themselves well, which was the basis for the decision to make a new purchase.
Source: Bharat Shakti
