The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to procure 114 Rafale multi-role fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The deal is worth approximately ₹3.25 lakh crore (approximately $39-40 billion). The major move, which was reported by trusted Indian media outlets like NDTV, The Hindu, Economic Times and Reuters on February 12, 2026, addresses a long-standing shortage of IAF squadrons amid growing threats at the border.
The IAF currently operates around 29-30 fighter squadrons against the sanctioned strength of 42, creating a huge gap in operational readiness. This purchase will increase air combat capabilities, especially on the northern and western borders.
The deal is based on a hybrid “Make in India” model: about 18 jets from France’s Dassault Aviation will be delivered in fly-away condition for immediate needs, while the remaining 96 (or as many as 90-96 in some reports) will be assembled in the country. The target is to have 50-60% indigenous content in the fleet, with a possibility of 80% local assembly. In this, emphasis has been laid on technology transfer, local partnership and strengthening India’s private defense sector for production and maintenance.
The 114 aircraft will be a mix of single-seat and twin-seat variants (specific breakdown: initial proposal includes 88 single-seat and 26 twin-seat). They will be integrated with India’s existing 36 Rafale jets (operational with No. 17 “Golden Arrows” squadron at Ambala and No. 101 “Falcons” at Hasimara), thereby significantly increasing the total fleet and standardizing high-end multi-role operations, logistics and training.
The AoN follows earlier approval from the Defense Procurement Board last month. Negotiations on price, contract terms and integration of weapons (which include advanced systems like SCALP cruise missile and Meteor air-to-air missile) are progressing. Final approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is required before signing.
The move comes ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India in February 2026, which reflects the strengthening India-France defense ties. Although no final contract has been signed yet, the approval marks a significant development in one of India’s largest defense procurements ever.
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