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IAF chief: MRFA deal may be finalised this financial year

4 October 2026 · ⏱ 2 ମିନିଟ · GS3 Security: Defence procurement

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ଖବରରେ କାହିଁକି?

114 jets, one French maker: the MRFA Rafale deal every GS3 defence procurement answer should name

The IAF expects the fighter deal to close this year.

Why it matters: factual, Prelims-type

IAF chief: MRFA deal may be finalised this financial year
Ashwin Kumar from Bangalore, India · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
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What you need to know

2 ମିନିଟ

Air Chief Marshal A.P.

Singh said the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft deal may be finalised by the current financial year.

Reports point to a possible purchase of 114 Rafale jets from France, built by Dassault Aviation.

ଉତ୍ସ: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)

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ମୁଖ୍ୟ ତଥ୍ୟ

Remember these

  • MRFA stands for Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft, the IAF's programme to add new fighters
  • Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh said the deal may be finalised this financial year
  • Reports point to a purchase of 114 Rafale jets from France
  • The Rafale is built by Dassault Aviation
  • India already operates Rafale jets, so the deal builds on an existing fleet
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ପ୍ରିଲିମ୍ସ · ମେନ୍ସ

How the exam will ask it

ପ୍ରିଲିମ୍ସ

  • The Rafale is a twin-engine multirole fighter built by France's Dassault Aviation.
  • MRFA is a programme of the Indian Air Force to procure multi-role combat aircraft.
  • The Indian Air Force is headed by the Chief of the Air Staff, who holds the rank of Air Chief Marshal.

ମେନ୍ସ

GS3 Security: defence procurement. The IAF's shrinking fighter squadron strength drives the MRFA need; procurement is governed by the Defence Acquisition Procedure, which balances speed, cost and indigenisation under Make in India. The implication is a trade-off between quick imports and long-term self-reliance, so the way forward is government-to-government deals paired with technology transfer and local manufacturing.

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Quick recall

Answer before you reveal

The Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme of the Indian Air Force has been reported to involve buying Rafale jets built by which company?

  1. Saab
  2. Eurofighter GmbH
  3. Lockheed Martin
  4. Dassault Aviation
ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଖନ୍ତୁ

ଉତ୍ତର: D — Correct: Dassault Aviation — The Rafale is built by France's Dassault Aviation, the maker of India's existing Rafale fleet. • Saab — wrong: Saab builds the Gripen, not the Rafale. • Eurofighter GmbH — wrong: Eurofighter GmbH builds the Typhoon, a rival European fighter, not the Rafale. • Lockheed Martin — wrong: Lockheed Martin builds the F-16 and F-35 families, not the Rafale.

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