Big update in Rafale deal: India begins process to procure 114 jets for Rs 3.25 lakh crore

Big update in Rafale deal: India begins process to procure 114 jets for Rs 3.25 lakh crore NEW DELHI: India has formally begun the process of acquiring 114 Rafale fighter jets from France in a deal estimated to be worth around Rs 3.25 lakh crore, marking a major step in one of the country's largest-ever military procurement programmes.According to defence ministry sources cited by ANI, the Acquisition Wing of the Ministry of Defence issued a Letter of Request (LoR) to the French government last week, initiating the government-to-government process for the proposed purchase. The French side is expected to respond within the next two to three months, with negotiations likely to be completed and the agreement finalised within a year, ANI reported. The proposed acquisition forms part of the Indian Air Force's Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme, which aims to address the service's declining fighter squadron strength. The IAF currently operates 36 Rafale jets procured under the 2016 India-France agreement and is facing a significant capability gap, with its fighter strength falling to around 29 squadrons against the sanctioned requirement of 42.5. End of Article