Rafale: India's Strategic Choice for Air Power Supremacy
The conflict known as Operation Sindoor in May 2025 between India and Pakistan underscored the critical role of air power in India's national security strategy. Simultaneously, the strengthening alliance between China and Pakistan, bolstered by Turkiye's support to the Pakistan Air Force, has shifted the regional air power balance against India, posing a significant threat that cannot be overlooked.
Addressing the Fighter Squadron Shortfall
While the Indian Air Force successfully met its objectives during Operation Sindoor, a pressing concern remains: its dwindling fighter inventory. Currently, the IAF operates with only 29 fighter squadrons, far below the sanctioned strength of 42. In contrast, the Pakistan Air Force maintains 22 squadrons and plans to integrate advanced J-35 fifth-generation aircraft from China, exacerbating the asymmetry.
The turn of the millennium marked a significant achievement with the inaugural flight of the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, signaling the growth of India's domestic aerospace sector. Around the same period, the IAF initiated efforts to acquire 126 Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft to counter the fighter shortage. However, negotiations for 108 aircraft to be manufactured in India stalled due to disagreements between HAL and Dassault over production and contractual terms, leading to the withdrawal of the Request for Proposal in June 2015.
The Rafale Acquisition: A Timely Intervention
During this prolonged and inconclusive process, India's adversaries advanced by inducting modern fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft in substantial numbers, widening the capability gap. To bridge this critical void, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during an April 2015 visit to France, secured an agreement to purchase 36 Rafale aircraft in flyaway condition through an Inter-Governmental Agreement. The Cabinet Committee on Security approved this deal in August 2016 as an urgent operational necessity following the failure of prior procurement attempts.
Concurrently, the LCA project faced delays in integrating indigenous radar, weapons, and engine deliveries, preventing it from serving as a substitute for the planned MMRCA acquisition. Recognizing this limitation, the IAF issued a Request for Information in 2018 for 114 Multi Role Fighter Aircraft. A government-appointed committee evaluated responses to identify the most effective path for rapid induction of technologically advanced fighters.
Evaluating Global Options
The committee considered various international platforms, including the F-16 and F-18 from the United States, Eurofighter Typhoon, Gripen E from Sweden, and Su-35/MiG-35 from Russia. US-origin aircraft were subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations, imposing export approvals, technology transfer licenses, and end-use restrictions. The Gripen's General Electric engine introduced similar constraints, while Russian aircraft raised concerns about technological sophistication. The Eurofighter's consortium-based structure complicated prospects for an inter-governmental agreement.
Advantages of Expanding the Rafale Fleet
After assessing induction timelines, life cycle costs, techno-industrial compatibility, and the IAF's immediate operational requirements, the committee recommended increasing the number of Rafale aircraft. The IAF already operates 36 Rafales, and the Indian Navy plans to induct 26 Rafale M variants, making additional acquisitions highly advantageous. Further Rafales would deliver substantial operational, commercial, and logistical benefits through commonality with existing fleets.
With Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul facilities already provided by Dassault Aviation, expanded induction would reduce overall costs and help streamline the IAF's diverse fighter inventory, alleviating sustainment burdens and improving aircraft availability. The Rafale MRFA acquisition promises to significantly enhance IAF capabilities within a relatively short timeframe as inductions proceed over the coming years.
Boosting Indigenous Industry and Self-Reliance
The government's mandate that 60 percent of production value be realized domestically will provide a major boost to India's aerospace and defense sectors. Historical experience with Mirage and Rafale platforms, coupled with the reliability of Dassault and France as partners, strongly supports this choice, despite concerns about reliance on a single foreign original equipment manufacturer. A foreign OEM producing fighters in India with a local partner would foster genuine self-reliance and directly aid the development and production of the LCA Mk II and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.
Operational Excellence and Future Prospects
Although categorized as multirole, the Rafale is essentially an omnirole aircraft, capable of striking targets, engaging in air combat, and gathering intelligence within a single mission without requiring reconfiguration. It has been proven in conflicts ranging from Syria, Mali, and Libya to Operation Sindoor in the Indian context. Dassault has continuously upgraded the Rafale from the F3 variant supplied to India to the F5 variant now offered, with integration of Indian weapons anticipated in the forthcoming deal.
The Rafale MRFA deal represents a genuine win-win for the IAF and its combat potential. Interoperability with existing IAF and Indian Navy Rafales will enable seamless integration into the IAF's operational network, substantially enhancing national air power. Concurrently, the IAF still requires the LCA and AMCA to restore numerical strength and maintain a qualitative edge. With Tejas Mk1A production underway and development of Tejas MkII and AMCA progressing, India's aerospace ecosystem is gradually gaining momentum.
The planned induction of 114 Rafale MRFA aircraft will equip the IAF with the capability and confidence to truly "touch the sky with glory," aligning with its motto, "Nabha Sprisham Diptam." This strategic move ensures India's air power remains robust and responsive in an increasingly challenging regional environment.
