The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath_Singh meet on 12 February and gave nod to 114 additional Rafale jets, six more P-8I maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, and a discussed the flagship programme to develop indigenous marine gas turbine engines for the Indian Navy. After the DAC granting Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), the project moves to the crucial stage of issuing the Request for Proposal (RFP) to vendors, followed by technical evaluation, field trials (if necessary), and commercial negotiations. For major acquisitions, final approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is required before the contract is signed.
In 2025, the DAC had approved multiple major capital acquisition proposals exceeding Rs 3 lakh crore in total, strongly prioritizing indigenous sourcing under Atmanirbhar Bharat. While the P-8I numbers being small will be an outright purchase, bulk of the additional Rafale will be made-in-India. The proposal to acquire more Rafale jets had been moved by the Indian Air Force (IAF) sometime back. The new induction is aimed at arresting the steady decline in the IAF’s fighter squadron strength. The Defence Procurement Board had already examined the case before it moved to the DAC, the highest decision-making body of MoD on capital acquisitions. The case has also got timed with the French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India who will be here for AI Summit starting 17 February.
DAC also approved Indian Navy’s long-pending plan to procure six additional P-8I aircraft from the United States. The move comes amid signs of easing tensions between New Delhi and Washington, following progress on trade and tariff issues. The Indian Navy currently operates 12 P-8I aircraft and is seeking 6 more to strengthen surveillance over the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The acquisition is being pursued through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route. Senior officials from the US Department of Defence and Boeing visited India in September 2025 for detailed discussions. The contract likely to be signed in the next financial year.
The DAC also discussed a major indigenisation proposal for developing marine gas turbine engines for the Indian Navy under the MAKE-I category. The Make-I category under India‘s Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP 2020) facilitates government-funded, indigenous design, development, and manufacturing of critical military platforms. It offers 70 percent funding support for prototype development (up to ₹250 crore per agency) to Indian firms, encouraging Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in major defence technologies. The plan is to reduce dependence on imported propulsion systems and support the Navy’s long-term shipbuilding plans. The focus is on developing a 24-28 megawatt marine gas turbine to power future destroyers and frigates. Currently India is dependent on foreign suppliers such as the US-made GE LM2500 and Ukrainian Zorya engines. Four prototype engines are planned under the programme. Indian Navy has been working with DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Alongside conventional gas turbines, the Navy is also studying full electric propulsion for future warships to improve efficiency and reduce life-cycle costs.
The Fighter Aircraft Urgency
As of late 2025, the IAF fields only 29 fighter aircraft squadrons against an authorised strength of 42.5, a gap aggravated by delays in indigenous programs. IAF thus needs additional fighter aircraft. IAF’s Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program is meant to acquire 114 advanced fighter jets to replace aging fleets and bolster squadron strength.There were eight contenders who responded to the RFI (Request for Information) that was formally sent out in April 2018. Valued around $20–$39 billion, the deal focuses on indigenous manufacturing. The program aims to address severe operational gaps.
Any detailed selection process would require time. Rafale has been tried and tested in various exercises and more recently on Op Sindoor. Rafale, if chosen, would retain continuity, and avoid adding another fleet. A government-to-government (G2G) deal could be signed quickly as the price identification already exists. 114 when added to 26 Rafale-Marine (Rafale-M) of the Indian Navy would make a viable figure for make-in-India and to set up a full assembly line. There is already a project to make Rafale fuselage in India. France’s Safran is establishing a dedicated facility in Hyderabad, India, for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of the M88 engines used in the Rafale fighter jets. India’s future fighter fleet will not only be a military asset but as a central pillar of countries operational capabilities and national strategy.
Meanwhile, the US has cleared a $686-million upgrade package for Pakistani F-16 fighter jets that will also extend the life of Pakistani F-16 fleet till 2040. China already has nearly 400 J-20 fifth-generation fighters. Pakistan is already operating J-10C fighters armed with PL-15 long-rage beyond-visual-range (LR-BVR) missiles. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has sought to acquire the Chinese J-35 fifth-generation aircraft. With China and Pakistan working in collusion, and by adding and modernising their fighter fleets, regional military balances are undergoing significant transformation.
Broad Contours
In April 2025, through an additional inter-governmental agreement, contract for 26 Rafale-Marine aircraft for the Indian Navy costing ₹63,887 crore (approximately $7.6 billion) was signed. The Rafale-M has 95 percent commonality with IAF fighters, and thus very high degree of interoperability. India is now set to approve the Rs 3.25 lakh crore mother-of-all-deals to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets from France. It will include 88 single-seat and 26 twin-seat variants. The deal is likely to include 18 jets in fly-away condition, and remaining to be manufactured domestically, boosting India’s defence manufacturing under the Make-in-India initiative with up to 60 per cent indigenous content. The jets will likely be assembled at a final assembly line expected to be established in Nagpur. IAF’s current Rafale are F3R standard. 90 of the new aircraft will be Rafale F4 multirole fighters. Remaining 24 are likely to be next-generation Rafale F5 variants. The deal will include SCALP and advanced variants of Meteor missiles.
IAF’s Existing Rafale F3R
The Rafale is considered a 4.5-generation fighter. It has forward hemisphere stealth, and super-cruise capability. IAF Rafale aircraft are highly customised with some India specific modifications. Essentially they are of F3-plus standard. India initially acquired the 36 Rafale, F3R variants, through a €7.87 billion deal (approximately $8.5 billion) signed in 2016. It was G2G contract prioritising speed, and political assurance. The platform combined air superiority, deep-strike, nuclear delivery, and electronic warfare roles. The aircraft had significant India-specific enhancements, and the deal included infrastructure for two full operational airbases. During Op Sindoor, Rafale’s survivability and the integration of long-range stand-off munitions, electronic attack, and real-time data fusion were demonstrated, and appreciated.
India-Specific Enhancements included Israeli helmet-mounted displays, Integration of Spice-1000 glide bombs,advanced jammers, cold-start capability for high-altitude bases (like Leh), Indian satellite communications, and integration with indigenous weapons like Astra missiles, among others. The F3R standard became operational around 2019. It serves as a bridge to the next-generation Rafale F4 standard, which adds advanced connectivity and further capabilities.
Rafale F4
Development of the F4 standard began in 2019. The standard improved on-board processing, external connectivity, and upgrade of the Thales Spectra self-defence system. The radar and sensor upgrades facilitate the detection of airborne stealth targets at long range. With improved communications equipment, it is also more effective in network-centric warfare. Flight tests began in 2021 and the first F4-standard aircraft was delivered in 2023. The French Air and Space Force (FASF) aircraft are being upgraded to this standard. UAE is the first foreign customer of F4.
F4 will give enhanced survivability, and sensor-fusion based dominance in a highly contested environments. The aircraft will be able to integrate Indian systems and weapons such as the Astra Mk-2 BVR AAM. The Indian proposal envisages a firm order for 90 Rafale F4 aircraft with deliveries beginning around 2029. The Rafale F4 continues to see planned upgrades till 2035, and thus extending both capability and relevance.
Rafale F5
Dassault Aviation and its partners are already working on the F5 standard that will be ready by around 2030. The upgrade will be incremental. F5 will share some features with the next-generation European aircraft. The F5 standard will have new sensors, armaments, and faster and more secure ability to communicate and collaborate. The aircraft will have much better electronic-warfare suite, with advanced capability for Suppression or Destruction of Enemy Defences (SEAD/DEAD), using latest jamming systems and anti-radiation weapons. It will be further evolution of the existing SPECTRA EW and jamming system and will also create a “defensive bubble” around the aircraft. F5 will also introduce fibre-optic cabling. All this will greatly improve penetration in contested environment. The Rafale F5 will also act as a sensor-truck with data fusion and processing abilities that allows it a tactical flying command post role. The F5 is envisioned to bridge fifth and sixth-generation capabilities.
The F5 will also be modified to carry the Anglo-French Future Cruise Missile (FCM) and Future Anti-Ship Missile (FASM). The T-REX engine will deliver nearly 20 percent greater thrust than the current M88-2. The “Super Rafale” will also be modified to carry hypersonic, nuclear capable, guided missiles. Dassault calls it as an Air Combat System within a system, rather than just a fighter jet, like the current Rafale F4 variant is.
F5 deliveries initially were planned to start in 2029 but discussions are underway to deliver them starting in 2027. France continues to see a market for Rafale F5 for those unable to acquire the F-35 for geo-political reasons. The Rafale is distinct from other European fighters because it is almost entirely built by one country with Dassault (airframe), Thales (avionics and EW) and Safran (aero-engine) covering all the major systems. Rafale also has a carrier-based maritime variant. French officials had reportedly also considered equipping the Rafale to launch small satellites.
The likely India deal envisages 24 Rafale F5 with deliveries from around 2030. The F4 aircraft may also be upgraded later. Rafale would become a cornerstone of India’s Operational credibility and deterrence. The Rafale is planned to be the FASF‘s primary combat aircraft until at least 2040.
Make in India Aero-Engine with France
French aerospace company Safran and India’s DRDO have joined to develop India’s first jet engine with Indian intellectual property rights (IPR). Safran will transfer 100percent technology to DRDO, including that for crystal blades. The joint project between Safran and India‘s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a DRDO lab will develop and produce 120 Kilo Newton (kN) engine which will power India’s Advance Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Later engine variants will have up to 140 KN.
Rafale Current Production Rate
In October 2025, Dassault hailed production of 300th Rafale. As of late 2025, there have been 533 firm orders for the Rafale, with France and export customers including India, Egypt, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the UAE, Serbia, and Indonesia. Of these, 233 are still to be delivered. There are more countries showing interest. When 114 aircraft deal goes through, the numbers will be even more significant.
Till a year back the Rafale production rate was 2 aircraft a month (24 a year). The same has now been increased to 3 per month (36 per year), with a plan to increase to 4 per month (48 a year) to handle a growing backlog of orders. This is a significant increase from previous years and is supported by expansion at the Mérignac factory and new facilities in Cergy-Pontoise. Dassault has already plans to make Rafale fuselage in India. With increased Indian order a full assembly line can be created in India. This would give a great boost to total production. Making in India would also be cheaper. Dassault could thus source and supply India made Rafale jets for global customers. Such a plant would also increase India–France options for future aircraft.
P-8I Poseidon Deal and Operations
The P-8I is a customized export variant of the P-8A using the Raytheon APY-10 multi-mission surface search radar. It also features two components not fitted on the P-8A, a Telephonics APS-143 OceanEye aft radar and a Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD), a specialized sensor technology used in anti-submarine warfare (ASW). India purchased AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles and Mark 54 Lightweight Torpedoes for the P-8I.
On 1 January 2009, India‘s Ministry of Defence signed a US$2.1 billion (~$2.98 billion in 2024) agreement with Boeing for eight P-8Is to replace the Indian Navy‘s aging Tupolev Tu-142M maritime surveillance turboprops. P-8I were inducted into the Indian Navy on 15 May 2013 at INS Rajali in Tamil Nadu. The deal for four additional aircraft worth around $1.1 billion was signed on 27 July 2016. All aircraft were in India by 30 December 2021.
On 30 April 2021, the US Department of Defense (DoD) cleared the sale of six P-8Is and related equipment. The $3 billion deal for six P-8I aircraft is close to being sealed now.
The P-8I Poseidon is a key long-range maritime patrol aircraft (LRMPA) for the Indian Navy used for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR), and anti-surface warfare. Indian Navy already operates 12 P-8Is from INS Rajali and INS Hansa for maritime dominance and supporting operations, including anti-piracy, across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and surveillance along land borders (LAC). The aircraft is also equipped with sensors and systems from Indian defence companies. High endurance (over 10 hours) allows for long patrols over India‘s vast maritime interests.
Maritime Domain Awareness is crucial for monitoring the growing Chinese naval presence in the IOR. P-8I projects power and ensures India‘s ability to respond to threats in its extended maritime area adding deterrence.
In 2014, several Indian Navy P-8Is conducted search operations for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. The aircraft was deployed during the search operations of the wreckage after the 2016 IAF An-32 crash in the Bay of Bengal. P-8Is were deployed in the 2017 Doklam Standoff between the Indian Army and China‘s PLA. Indian Navy P-8Is also monitored Pakistani Army units during the 2019 Pulwama standoff. P-8I fleet has participated in most exercise carried out in the IOR.
Marine Engines Current Capacity and Roadmap India
Marine engines in India are driven by major global and local players providing solutions for commercial vessels, fishing boats, and naval applications. Key manufacturing hubs are located in Pune and Chennai, pushing growth in local production. Weichai (China) India, based in Pune, offers a wide range of marine commercial engines (54–1650 HP) for tug boats, cargo ships, and fishing vessels. MVDE (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan) is a leading manufacturer of high-performance diesel engines for fishing boats, ferries, and pleasure craft. Yanmar (Japan) Engine Manufacturing India (YEMI) manufactures vertical water-cooled diesel engines in Chennai, with a focus on high-speed propulsion and auxiliary engines. Wärtsilä (Finland) India is recognized for efficient, green technology engines for various marine applications. Cummins (USA) India provides engines for commercial vessels, including fishing, passenger, and harbour craft. Turbo Mot India (MAN Engines German) supplies high-speed marine engines known for compact design and high performance.
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) partnered with Rolls-Royce Solutions to manufacture MTU S4000 marine engines in India. Bharat Forge acquired a stake in Zorya Masperate India to indigenize the repair and production of gas turbine engines for the Indian Navy. Clearly India needs to expand marine engine construction for larger naval ships to reduce import dependency.
With 54 naval vessels under construction, the focus is on scaling up indigenous manufacturing. The Indian Navy has initiated, in collaboration with Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited, the design and development of a 6MW marine diesel engine, aiming for over 50 percent indigenous content. The sector is expected to create potentially 2.5 million direct and indirect jobs.
Expanding domestic marine engine construction is vital for India‘s maritime sovereignty, ensuring that, while ships are built in India, they also possess indigenous propulsion systems. India aims to be among the top five shipbuilders by 2047.
To Summarise
India is prioritizing domestic marine engine manufacturing to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, with over 90 percent of engines over 6 MW currently imported from companies in Germany, Finland, the UK, the US, and Japan. Expanding this sector is crucial for the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative to avoid strategic, technical, and logistical bottlenecks in building a projected fleet of over 200 naval ships by 2035.
India Navy has to cover a very large area of the Indian Ocean. P-8I is an important maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare asset for the Indian Navy. The purchase of additional aircraft is very important. Defence acquisitions are an important part of the trade deal being worked out between USA and India. P-8I fits the bill on all counts.
India’s capability to make global-class aero-structures has been proven with cabins of Apache AH-64, Sikorsky S-92 helicopter and Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. India also makes Lockheed Martin F-16 wings. India makes the entire indigenous LCA. Making the Rafale in India will work out much cheaper for France.
Made in India F4 and F5 will be help learning for India’s AMCA program which too will be imbibing sixth-generation technologies. India will insist on achieving over 60 percent indigenous content at the earliest. The same will be possible as the fuselage and many sub-systems and components will be made in India. Dassault Aviation has already partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited to manufacture Rafale fuselage sections in Hyderabad, with a targeted production of up to 24 airframes annually. The proposed Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India would substantially reduce lifecycle costs, improve tarmac availability, and secure from supply chain complexities.
Traditionally India and France have been enjoying an exceptionally warm relationship, which is the fruit of deep affinities and the unwavering trust between the two countries since India’s independence. France is considered as the most reliable Western “friend”. It will make better operational and economic sense for India to acquire the latest variants F4 and F5 in a G2G deal and Make-in-India. Lot of time has been lost. Time to act is now, lest we get “OBE” (overtaken by events) in our neighbourhood.
Note: The article was originally written by the Author for The Eurasian Times 13th February 2026; it has since been updated.
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