India has finalised the Letter of Request (LoR) for the India 114 Rafale fighter jets deal, marking a significant step forward in one of the country’s biggest defence acquisitions. The LoR is expected to be sent to France within the next few weeks, according to reports.
The India 114 Rafale fighter jets deal involves procurement of 114 fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force. Out of these, 90 jets are expected to be manufactured in India under a partnership between French aerospace major Dassault Aviation and an Indian firm, while the remaining 24 aircraft will be delivered in fly-away condition.
Next Step After LoR: RFP Process and Defence Procurement Framework
According to The Indian Express, sources indicate that once France responds to the LoR, India will move ahead with issuing a formal Request for Proposal (RFP). The LoR is a government-to-government communication used under frameworks such as Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Intergovernmental Agreements (IGA) to initiate defence procurement discussions.
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The India 114 Rafale fighter jets deal has already received in-principle approval from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which is India’s top defence procurement body. Defence Acquisition Council approved the proposal earlier, and after the LoR response from France, detailed negotiations on pricing, availability, and logistics support will begin.
Once discussions are completed, final approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) will be required before the contract is officially signed.
Indian Air Force and Navy Rafale Fleet Expansion Under India 114 Rafale Fighter Jets Deal
At present, the Indian Air Force operates 36 Rafale fighter jets, while the Indian Navy is also preparing to induct 26 Rafale-M naval variants. The expansion under the India 114 Rafale fighter jets deal is expected to reduce logistics, maintenance, and training costs due to the existing Rafale ecosystem in India.
India has also pushed for greater indigenous participation in the production process, demanding up to 50% indigenous content in the proposed aircraft. The deal is expected to enhance India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem through increased local involvement.
As reported by The Indian Express, the India 114 Rafale fighter jets deal could become one of the largest defence procurements in India’s history. If finalised, it would also strengthen France’s position as India’s second-largest defence partner after Russia.