Not F-35 or SU-57… India Eyeing This Deadly Fighter Jet Feared Across Borders
In the wake of Operation Sindoor, which underscored the precision-strike capability of the Rafale in combat, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has renewed its push to acquire additional units of the French-made fighter. While India's air dominance was once again on display during the operation earlier this year, the IAF continues to face a critical shortfall in combat squadrons, a gap that senior commanders say must be addressed urgently.
Rejecting the American F-35 and Russian Su-57 for the moment, the IAF has identified the Rafale as the most suitable platform to strengthen its fleet under the long-delayed Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme. Senior officials have 'strongly advocated a government-to-government agreement with France" to fast-track procurement, most of which would be manufactured domestically in partnership with foreign firms. This would mean that 'very soon the Indian Air Force will get 'desi Rafale'."
Current Strength and the Gap
India's requirement stands at a minimum of 42 fighter squadrons. At present, the IAF operates only 29, compared to Pakistan's 25 and China's formidable 66 squadrons. Both rivals already possess 5th-generation fighters, while India's most advanced combat aircraft, the Rafale, belongs to the 4.5-generation class. The IAF currently fields two squadrons of Rafales.
According to a The Times of India report, the IAF is set to push the MRFA proposal to the stage of Initial Acceptance of Requirement (AON), the first formal step in the procurement process. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is expected to take up the matter within the next two months.
Sources say the final decision will rest with the government when the MRFA case reaches the DAC, but the urgency is clear that the IAF is keen to prevent any further decline in squadron numbers.
Momentum After Operation Sindoor
The renewed push for Rafales comes just two months after Operation Sindoor, which ran from May 7 to 10 as a retaliatory action following the Pahalgam attack in April. Rafales played a central role, carrying out long-range precision strikes across the border.
The MRFA programme has been in limbo for seven to eight years, with its initial estimated cost pegged at over Rs 1.2 lakh crore. The IAF currently maintains 31 fighter squadrons, each comprising 16-18 jets. With the impending retirement of the MiG-21 fleet next month, that figure will drop to its lowest-ever 29 squadrons.
The 5th-Gen Requirement
The IAF has also acknowledged the need to induct 5th-generation fighters, with the Russian Sukhoi Su-57 and the American F-35 under consideration. However, talks on this front have not begun.
From a cost-efficiency and maintenance standpoint, the IAF believes more Rafales under a direct government-to-government deal with France would be the most viable solution. The last such deal was signed in September 2016, worth Rs 59,000 crore, for 36 jets now stationed at Ambala and Hasimara air bases.
If approved, the MRFA push could ensure the IAF does not just maintain its current edge but also narrows the gap with regional rivals in the years ahead.
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