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The Indian Air Force (IAF) has formally proposed that the government acquire 114 French-made Rafale fighter jets for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) after the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) downed several Indian aircraft and targeted 26 military bases during the May conflict.
Tensions escalated following the April 22 Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). In retaliation, India carried out airstrikes in Pakistani cities on the night of May 6-7. The PAF responded by shooting down six IAF fighter jets, including three Rafales, before the fighting ended.
The 88-hour-long conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors came to a halt on May 10, when U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire through Truth Social. Pakistan credited Trump’s mediation for the truce, while India insisted that the ceasefire was the outcome of direct talks between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMO) of both countries.
According to Indian media reports, if approved, the proposed Rafale deal will be worth INR 2 lakh crore (approximately $23.8 billion). The jets would be built in India under the ‘Make in India’ scheme, with Dassault Aviation collaborating with an Indian partner and contributing 60 percent indigenous content.
The proposal is currently being reviewed by multiple wings of the MoD, including Defence Finance. The IAF has urged the ministry to bypass the Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program and directly proceed with the Rafale fighter jets acquisition.
If finalized, the deal will mark India’s largest-ever defence purchase, expanding its Rafale fleet to 176 aircraft. The IAF has already inducted 36 Rafales, while the Indian Navy has placed orders for another 36 under separate government-to-government agreements.
