Why is 114 Rafale the first choice of IAF? Understand the whole equation

India Fighter Jet Deal: In the effort to increase the strength of the Indian Air Force (IAF), one name repeatedly comes to the fore: Rafale. Rafale’s lead among many contenders in the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) competition is believed to be not just because of technology, but because of preparation, trust and continuity. This is the reason why Rafale is being said to be the first choice for 114 new fighter jets.

rafale Already operational in IAF. The ecosystem of its weapons, maintenance and pilot training is ready. And now with Make-in-India, its industrial scope also seems to be deepening. The question is why and how does Rafale meet the needs of the IAF?

Why Rafale the lowest-risk option for IAF?

According to Air Marshal (R) Anil Chopra, the biggest advantage of Rafale is continuity. Due to the platforms already in service, the operational and logistics burden associated with the induction of a new fighter does not increase. At a time when squadron strength is a challenge. Rafale provides low-risk and high-readiness solutions.

How G2G deals reduce time and uncertainty

A government-to-government (G2G) agreement for Rafale could happen relatively soon. Because price benchmarks have been decided in earlier talks. This means less contractual risk, shorter lead times and faster delivery in line with the immediate needs of the Air Force. This path looks much more practical than the new commercial bids.

There is already a project to make Rafale’s fuselage section in India.

What Diplomacy and Industrial Signals Say with France

Ongoing discussions with French officials in India indicate that talks are moving forward, albeit at a measured pace. The special thing is that 114 Rafale of IAF and 26 Rafale-M of Indian Navy together can make such a big order. This will make full-scale assembly line in India economically and strategically. It is possible in both ways.

Why is the discussion about F4 and F5 variants important?

Recent reports have also indicated that India may consider 90 Rafale F4 and 24 Rafale F5 (option). Even though there is no official confirmation, speculations suggest that New Delhi wants to move forward with next-gen capabilities. It will be with better sensors, networking and upgraded weapons.

Localization in India: Real manufacturing, not just offsets

There is already a project to make Rafale’s fuselage section in India. This is a big step towards aerospace manufacturing beyond limited offset. Along with this, Safran is setting up an MRO facility for M88 engines in Hyderabad, which can support the Indian fleet as well as regional operators. With this, India can become a regional engine-sustainance hub.

Safran is setting up an MRO facility for the M88 engine in Hyderabad.

Rafale’s progress at a glance

Already operational in IAF, faster deployment possible
G2G deal reduces time and contract risk
Option of advanced variants like F4/F5
Assembly and MRO under Make-in-India
Navy + Air Force together have huge order volume

Why will the defense be stronger?

Rafale is not just a fighter jet, but a package of preparation, confidence and industry build-up. Rafale fits all three criteria of MRFA’s need, time demand and industrial capability. This is the reason why 114 Rafale seems to be the first choice of IAF and India’s defense is moving towards becoming stronger.