New Delhi: IAF Rafale indigenous content has become a key focus of India’s latest fighter aircraft procurement plan. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has asked that at least 40% of the components in 96 Rafale F4 fighter jets manufactured in India should be made locally. This percentage is expected to increase to 60% by the final production batch, supporting the government’s Make in India and defence self-reliance goals.
Details of Indigenous Rafale Proposal
The proposal is part of a planned government-to-government defence agreement between India and France for 114 Rafale F4 fighter aircraft.
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According to reports, 18 aircraft will be delivered directly from France in flyaway condition, while the remaining 96 jets will be manufactured in India.
Indigenous Rafale: Details of Letter of Request
The Indian government sent a Letter of Request (LOR) to France in late May 2026. The LOR is the official document that starts negotiations under a government-to-government defence procurement process. France is expected to respond by September 2026, as required under the process.
Indigenous Content to Rise in Stages
The IAF wants the first India-made Rafale aircraft to contain at least 40% indigenous content. As production continues, the share of Indian-made parts will gradually increase. By the final batch, the aircraft should have 60% indigenous content, making them significantly more locally built.
Expected Indian Companies in Indigenous Rafale Project
Reports suggest that Dassault Aviation has already outsourced the Rafale fuselage to Tata. The company is also looking for an Indian partner to manufacture the aircraft’s wings and is working with Indian firms to produce several components and Line Replaceable Units (LRUs).
BEL and Thales Partnership
The localisation effort could receive another boost through cooperation between Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Thales. The two companies already work together on radar-related technologies, and their partnership has expanded to manufacture advanced microwave modules for the Rafale’s SPECTRA Electronic Warfare (EW) suite.
Maintenance Hub Could Increase Local Value
According to defence sources, Dassault also plans to establish a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India. If this plan moves forward, the overall localisation associated with the Rafale programme could reach around 80% over time through manufacturing, maintenance and support activities.
Delivery Timeline
If India and France sign the agreement in early 2027, deliveries of the first 18 flyaway Rafale jets are expected to begin from 2030 onwards. The remaining aircraft would then be produced in India under the localisation roadmap.
