Indian Air Force is preparing to issue a Request for Proposal to Dassault Aviation for the acquisition of 114 multi-role fighter aircraft. The plan includes 18 aircraft in flyaway condition and 96 to be manufactured in India with over 50 percent indigenous content. This dual-track approach addresses immediate operational gaps while building long-term domestic aerospace capability through technology transfer and industrial participation. The program is critical to restoring squadron strength amid the retirement of legacy aircraft. Negotiations will focus on cost, timelines, and depth of technology transfer, making it one of India’s most complex and strategically important defense procurements.
