India's proposed acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets will proceed alongside the country's indigenous combat aircraft programme, Defence Secretary RK Singh said, defending the plan as a way to address the Indian Air Force's shortage of fighter squadrons. Speaking at the NDTV Defence Conclave 2026, Singh said the Rafale is an established platform already operated by India, while the government remains committed to developing the Tejas Mk-1A and Mk-2.

India is negotiating with France for 114 additional Rafale aircraft under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft programme, estimated at around Rs 3.25 lakh crore, or $34-39 billion. Dassault submitted its formal proposal on August 6, 2026, and the offer is currently being examined by the Defence Ministry. Under the proposal being discussed, 18 aircraft could be supplied directly from France, while the remaining 96 would be manufactured in India, although the final arrangement is still under negotiation.

Singh said the Rafale acquisition would also create another fighter production line in India and involve significant indigenisation. He pointed to India's existing experience with the aircraft and the Navy's separate order for 26 Rafale-Marine fighters as factors behind the government's continued interest in the French platform. The proposed deal comes as the IAF faces pressure from declining squadron strength and the retirement of older aircraft, including the MiG-21.

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The Defence Secretary also maintained that the Rafale programme would not replace the indigenous Tejas effort. The Tejas Mk-1A is expected to begin entering IAF service, while the more advanced Mk-2 remains under development. Singh described the Mk-1A's future development as a gradual process in which additional capabilities, including indigenous radar and weapons systems, can be integrated over time. India is also developing the Uttam radar for the Tejas and the Virupaksha radar for the upgraded Su-30MKI.

India's earlier Rafale acquisition involved 36 aircraft under a 2016 intergovernmental agreement with France, with the first five delivered in July 2020. A separate 2025 agreement covers 26 naval Rafale fighters, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028 and conclude by 2030-31. The proposed 114-aircraft acquisition would therefore significantly expand India's Rafale fleet, while negotiations are also examining the integration of Indian-designed weapons. Singh said the government intends to pursue the Rafale purchase as an immediate measure to address the fighter shortage while continuing work on Tejas and other indigenous and unmanned aircraft programmes.

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