Amid delays in MRFA tender, IAF considering offer of 36 more Rafales under Govt-to-Govt deal

Source : Indian Defence Updates (IDU)

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According to a media report, the top brass of the Indian Air Force is now seriously considering to approach the Ministry of Defence, Govt of India for procuring 36 more French Dassault Rafale fighter jets in a Government-to-Government deal.

The deal for 26 Rafale-Marine for the Indian Navy will be signed in March and if the Air Force approves the second batch of 36 Rafale fighter jets, then the MRFA tender may be scrapped because the Air Force might prefer to order the third batch of 36 Rafale fighter jets in the same route of Govt-to-Govt deal that will take the Air Force's Rafale fleet size to 108 which is close to 114 jets, it wanted to acquire under the MRFA tender.