India may cut Rafale jets, IAF eyes alternate fighters instead

India Shifts MRFA Tender: Rafale Order Halved, 5th-Gen Fighters in Play

India is reportedly slashing its Rafale order from 114 to 60 jets, pivoting toward 5th-gen fighters (Su-57 or F-35A) to counter Pakistan’s incoming Chinese J-35s. The move deals a blow to Dassault, which sought 100+ orders for local production.

Key Shifts:

Make in India Push: Tata to assemble Rafale fuselages; cost renegotiations likely.

5th-Gen Urgency: IAF seeks stopgap stealth fighters before AMCA rollout.

Geopolitical Hurdles: F-35’s US restrictions vs Su-57’s untested combat record.

Impact on Dassault:

French firm faces squeezed margins as India demands local assembly and price cuts.