The Indian Air Force (IAF) has proposed that the government acquire 114 French-made Rafale fighter jets for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) after Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had shot down three aircraft when the countries clashed in May. 

 

Following the April 22 Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), India launched strikes in Pakistan’s cities on the night of May 6-7. In response, PAF shot down six IAF fighter jets, including three Rafales.

 

The 88-hour-long conflict between the neighbouring nuclear countries ended after the United States (US) President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, announced a ceasefire on May 10. 

 

Islamabad has time and again acknowledged President Trump's role in mediating the ceasefire; however, India denied it, saying that the ceasefire was achieved during direct talks that had taken place between both countries' Director General of Military Operations (DGMO).

 

According to Indian media, if the proposal is accepted, the deal for Rafale is estimated to be done to cost INR 2 lakh crore, or about a whopping $23.8 billion. The jets will feature 60 percent indigenous content and will be built in India by Dassault Aviation and an Indian firm under the ‘Make in India’ scheme.

 

The proposal is currently under consideration by different wings within the ministry, including Defence Finance. The IAF has reportedly called upon the MoD to bypass the Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program to directly opt for the Rafale.

 

The biggest ever defence deal for the Rafales is expected to take the number of Rafale aircraft in the Indian defence forces' fleet to 176, as the IAF had already inducted 36 of them, and the Indian Navy has placed orders for 36 of them under government-to-government deals.