New Delhi: Dassault Aviation’s 114 Rafale MRFA jets programme for India could follow a very different industrial model from the country’s earlier MMRCA fighter project. A recent report claims the French aircraft maker plans to take direct responsibility for integration, manufacturing quality and validation of Rafale jets produced in India.
Official information confirms that India has already cleared the procurement process for Rafale under the Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme, while most of the aircraft are planned to be manufactured in India. However, some reported details about Dassault’s exact responsibility model have not yet been publicly confirmed by the Indian government.
India Clears 114 Rafale MRFA Jets Procurement
On February 12, 2026, India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) Rafale for the Indian Air Force.
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The Ministry of Defence said the MRFA acquisition would improve the IAF’s air-dominance capability and strengthen its ability to conduct long-range offensive strikes. Importantly, the government officially confirmed that the majority of the MRFA aircraft will be manufactured in India.
Dassault Aviation has separately stated that the DAC authorised the start of direct negotiations for the purchase of 114 Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force in February 2026.
Dassault Reportedly Plans Greater Control Over Indian-Made Rafales
According to the reports, Dassault Aviation intends to act as the primary integrator for the proposed 114-aircraft programme.
The report claims this would give Dassault greater responsibility for manufacturing standards, aircraft integration, delivery schedules and quality control.
It also claims Dassault wants greater freedom to select Indian industrial partners according to their manufacturing and technical capabilities.
Why Is the Earlier 114 Rafale MRFA Jets Deal Important
India’s earlier MMRCA programme was designed to acquire 126 medium multi-role fighter aircraft.
That programme did not result in the planned 126-aircraft purchase. India later signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement with France on September 23, 2016, for 36 Rafale jets in fly-away condition.
The earlier experience makes responsibility, production quality and technology transfer important issues in any new large-scale Rafale manufacturing programme. The latest reported model appears designed to provide clearer industrial responsibility if a final deal for 114 Rafales is signed.
Tata Already Has a Major Role in Rafale Manufacturing
One major part of the Make in India plan is already officially confirmed. In June 2025, Dassault Aviation signed four Production Transfer Agreements to manufacture Rafale fuselage structures in India. A dedicated manufacturing facility is being established in Hyderabad.
The facility will manufacture important structural sections, including the rear fuselage lateral shells, complete rear section, central fuselage and front section.
Dassault described the agreement as the first-ever production of Rafale fuselages in India and an important step in strengthening India’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities.
Dassault Is Expanding Its Indian Supply Chain
Dassault’s involvement in India is wider than its partnership with Tata. The company says its Indian network now includes more than 30 companies, with local suppliers producing increasingly complex aerospace components.
Dassault has also said that its military manufacturing activities use dual sourcing from France and India. The company has introduced a centralised management system to support production growth, subcontractors and its wider Make in India strategy.
These developments suggest that Dassault is building an Indian aerospace supply chain that could support a much larger Rafale programme.
Will Around 90 Rafales Be Made in India
The report says approximately 90 of the proposed 114 Rafale fighters could be manufactured in India, with the remaining aircraft coming from France. It also reports that indigenous manufacturing content could initially reach around 40–50% and increase as the Indian supply chain develops. However, these specific numbers are not confirmed in the Indian government’s February 2026 announcement.
The Ministry of Defence has officially said only that the majority of the MRFA aircraft will be manufactured in India. Therefore, the 90-aircraft figure should not yet be presented as a final government-approved production number.
What Could the 114 Rafale MRFA Jets Mean for India
If the proposed procurement reaches a final contract, it could become one of India’s most important fighter-aircraft manufacturing programmes.
Producing most of the aircraft domestically could strengthen India’s aerospace manufacturing ecosystem while creating opportunities for Indian companies involved in structures, components and other aviation technologies.
Dassault’s existing Tata partnership already provides an important foundation for this industrial expansion.
For the Indian Air Force, the government says the MRFA acquisition is intended to improve air-dominance capability, long-range strike power and overall deterrence.
