Make in India Rafale project takes shape as IAF chief visits Dassault

Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh is on a three-day visit to France as India advances plans to acquire 114 Rafale fighter aircraft in one of its largest military aviation procurement programmes.

The visit comes at a crucial stage in the proposed deal, with India reportedly having finalised the Letter of Request (LoR) for the procurement and is expected to send it to the French government in the coming weeks.

The Air Chief is scheduled to visit key defence facilities and hold discussions with major French defence industry stakeholders, including Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of the Rafale fighter jet.

The proposed acquisition is expected to play a significant role in strengthening IAF's combat capabilities at a time when it is facing a shortage in fighter squadron numbers. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has already approved the procurement programme, paving the way for the next stages of the process.

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Key step in Rafale procurement process

The Letter of Request is a formal government-to-government communication used to initiate defence procurement discussions under an intergovernmental framework.

Once France responds with details related to pricing, availability, delivery timelines and logistical support, India will move forward with issuing a formal Request for Proposal (RFP).

Negotiations between the two countries are expected to begin after France's response. The proposal will subsequently require approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) before a final contract can be signed.

According to a News18 report, PM Narendra Modi is also expected to visit France in the near future, adding further momentum to the growing defence partnership between the two countries.

Focus on Make in India and technology integration

According to the report, a major feature of the proposed deal is its emphasis on indigenous manufacturing under the government's "Make in India" initiative.

Nearly 90 of the 114 aircraft are expected to be produced in India through a partnership between Dassault Aviation and an Indian company, while the remaining jets will be delivered directly from France in fly-away condition.

The report also said that the IAF considers the integration of future weapons systems into the aircraft a non-negotiable requirement. While there has been speculation regarding access to the Rafale's source code, discussions are expected to focus on securing a framework or "window" that would allow India to integrate future weapons and systems onto the platform.

Air Chief Marshal Singh's meetings with Dassault and other industry representatives could help move these discussions forward and accelerate progress on the fighter aircraft acquisition programme.

The visit is therefore being viewed as an important step in shaping the future structure of the deal and advancing one of India's most significant defence modernisation efforts.