India Eyes Rafale F5: France Confirms Potential First Export Customer

France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces has publicly confirmed that India is actively pursuing acquisition of 90 Rafale F4 fighter jets with an additional option for 24 Rafale F5s—the most explicit official acknowledgment yet of New Delhi’s commitment to the aircraft’s next-generation variant.

The confirmation appeared in a French ministry analysis addressing coordinated disinformation campaigns launched by China and Pakistan following the loss of an Indian Air Force Rafale during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. In its assessment, the French ministry stated: “India’s order for ninety Rafale F4s and the option for twenty-four Rafale F5s is an example of the trust that binds the two states.”

Context and Timing

India’s interest in a large Rafale follow-on order emerged publicly in August 2025 when the Times of India reported that the government was preparing a direct government-to-government proposal for 114 additional fighters under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program. The Indian Air Force recommended bypassing a traditional tender, citing squadron strength pressures and the aircraft’s proven operational performance as justification for fast-track acquisition.

Operation Sindoor itself became a catalyst for an aggressive information campaign by Beijing and Islamabad promoting Chinese military equipment. Chinese and Pakistani state-linked accounts circulated fabricated imagery, AI-generated visuals, and video-game screenshots falsely depicting Rafale jets destroyed by Chinese-supplied systems—a coordinated influence effort previously highlighted by the US Congress.

The Two-Step Acquisition

In October 2025, India’s Defence Research Wing outlined the procurement parameters: 90 Rafale F4s with an option for 24 Rafale F5s to be delivered from 2030, with contract signature expected in 2026. Critically, while the French ministry’s language made the acquisition sound confirmed, India has not yet signed contracts. The figures represent New Delhi’s declared intentions rather than finalized procurement, which likely explains why the French ministry’s article was subsequently removed from public access.

Nevertheless, the official acknowledgment is significant. The Rafale F4 introduces substantial software, networking, and sensor upgrades, while the F5—currently in development—represents the most substantial evolution since the aircraft’s service entry. The F5 variant will feature Safran’s upgraded M88 T-REX engine and operate within a manned-unmanned teaming architecture, partnering with a stealth unmanned combat air system derived from the nEUROn demonstrator.

Strategic Significance

If confirmed, the combined F4-F5 package would represent one of India’s largest fighter procurement programs, restoring IAF squadron numbers while enabling early integration of next-generation combat technologies ahead of India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft development timeline. The timing carries strategic weight as Russia has intensified its pitch for the Su-57, with outreach preceding President Putin’s December 2025 New Delhi visit—Moscow’s most assertive attempt in years to re-enter India’s high-end fighter market following the FGFA program’s collapse.

Source ID: SRCE-2025-1764676846230-1058