India Could Complete MRFA Fighter Jet Purchase Before Financial Year Ends, IAF Chief Says

India may finalise the long-pending Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) deal by the end of the current financial year if the procurement process progresses as planned, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, said on Saturday. The proposed acquisition is aimed at strengthening the Indian Air Force’s fighter fleet amid concerns over its declining squadron strength. Price negotiations and several other critical issues connected with the project are currently underway. Singh’s remarks came ahead of Air Force Day, as the IAF continues to focus on modernising its combat capabilities and expanding its operational capacity. The MRFA programme is among India’s most significant defence acquisition initiatives and has been under consideration for several years. The proposed procurement also assumes importance as the IAF seeks to maintain adequate numbers of fighter aircraft while simultaneously pursuing indigenous platforms and technologies. According to the Air Chief, the timeline for concluding the deal will depend on the progress of negotiations and the resolution of outstanding issues.

India in February cleared a long-pending proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter aircraft from France under a government-to-government framework. The move marked a major step forward for the MRFA programme, which was first initiated nearly two decades ago as part of efforts to enhance the IAF’s combat aircraft fleet. The proposed acquisition is expected to supplement the existing fleet and address the operational requirements arising from the shortage of fighter squadrons. While the government has cleared the proposal, the procurement process still involves negotiations on price and other important contractual and technical matters. Singh said these discussions are currently in progress, indicating that the finalisation of the agreement will depend on the outcome of those negotiations. The proposed 114-aircraft acquisition is significantly larger than India’s earlier Rafale purchase, under which 36 aircraft were procured from France. The current programme is consequently being closely watched as the IAF seeks to balance immediate operational requirements with its longer-term plans for indigenous fighter development.

The IAF’s requirement for additional fighter aircraft is also linked to concerns over the strength of its fighter squadrons. Singh said the force needs between 36 and 40 aircraft every year over the next few years to meet its requirements. He stressed that air power remains an important component of overall military strength and said India needs to further increase its air power capabilities. The comments come as the IAF works to manage the transition between older aircraft and newer platforms while attempting to maintain operational readiness. The annual requirement outlined by the Air Chief reflects the scale of aircraft induction needed to support the force in the coming years. Fighter aircraft acquisitions generally involve lengthy procurement, production and induction timelines, making the pace of decision-making important for maintaining fleet strength. The MRFA programme is therefore being pursued alongside other fighter and aviation initiatives, including India’s indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project.

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Singh also indicated that the IAF may need to consider another fighter platform if the AMCA programme encounters delays. The AMCA is intended to provide India with an advanced indigenous fighter capability, but the Air Chief said the force cannot allow potential delays in the programme to create a gap in its operational requirements. Russia has offered its Su-57 fighter aircraft to India, Singh said, while making it clear that no decision has been taken on the proposal. The reference to the Russian offer comes against the backdrop of India’s broader efforts to assess available platforms while developing its own next-generation combat aircraft. Any decision regarding an additional fighter platform would involve several operational, technical, financial and strategic considerations. For the IAF, the challenge is to ensure that near-term requirements are addressed without compromising longer-term plans to develop and manufacture advanced fighter aircraft domestically.

Beyond aircraft procurement, the Air Chief highlighted the role of technology and self-reliance in the future modernisation of the IAF. Singh said the force needs to be augmented through artificial intelligence and stressed the need for an “AI-augmented force.” Artificial intelligence is increasingly being considered for applications across military operations, including data analysis, decision support, surveillance and other systems that can improve the effectiveness of armed forces. Singh also underlined the importance of self-reliance for overall combat readiness. His remarks point to the IAF’s emphasis on combining new aircraft acquisitions with advances in indigenous defence technology. Developing domestic capabilities is also expected to reduce dependence on overseas suppliers for critical equipment and technologies. The modernisation effort therefore extends beyond adding aircraft to the fleet and includes the development of systems, technologies and industrial capabilities required to support future operations.

The Air Chief further stressed the need for India to develop and produce a fighter jet engine within the country, identifying indigenous engine capability as an important requirement for long-term aerospace self-reliance. Aircraft engines are among the most technically complex components of a fighter aircraft, and developing them domestically requires advanced research, manufacturing capabilities and sustained technological investment. His comments underline the broader challenge facing India as it seeks to build an indigenous ecosystem for advanced military aviation. In the immediate term, the proposed MRFA acquisition remains focused on negotiations for the 114 Rafale aircraft, with the IAF hoping that the agreement can be concluded within the current financial year if the process stays on schedule. At the same time, the force is preparing for possible contingencies around the AMCA programme, evaluating future fighter requirements and pursuing AI-enabled capabilities and domestic engine development as part of its wider modernisation strategy.

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