Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh arrived in France on Monday (June 1, 2026) on a four-day visit amid India’s move to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets in a deal estimated to be worth ₹3.25 lakh crore.

The visit comes days after the Union Ministry of Defence issued a Letter of Request to the French government, formally initiating the acquisition process, sources said, in one of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) largest-ever fighter aircraft procurement programmes.

France is expected to respond within the next two-three months, and negotiations are likely to conclude within a year.

During his visit, the Air Chief Marshal will interact with senior French military officials, and visit Dassault Aviation, manufacturer of the Rafale fighter aircraft, as well as missile manufacturer MBDA. The proposed acquisition is part of the IAF’s multi-role fighter aircraft programme aimed at addressing the declining strength of the fighter squadron.

The IAF currently operates 36 Rafale fighters inducted under the 2016 India-France agreement, and is functioning with about 29 fighter squadrons against an authorised strength of 42 squadrons.

Under the proposed arrangement, nearly 90 to 94 aircraft are expected to be manufactured in India through a partnership between Dassault Aviation and an Indian company under the Make in India initiative. The remaining aircraft would be delivered directly from France.

The programme is expected to achieve around 50% localisation, and will mark the first time Rafale fighters are produced outside France. The deal is also expected to facilitate the integration of indigenous weapons and systems, strengthening India’s aerospace manufacturing and operational capabilities.