MRFA (114 Multi Role Fighters) Program
To urgently refill squadrons, India resurrected the Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender for 114 jets (essentially the long delayed successor to the scrapped 126 jet MMRCA deal). This procurement (over ₹1.5 lakh crore) is meant to import advanced jets with local production under Make in India. After years of deliberation, recent reports indicate renewed momentum:
Tender status: The IAF issued an RFI in 2018 with seven global contenders (Boeing F/A-18E/F, F-15EX, Lockheed Martin F-21 [F-16 variant], Dassault Rafale, Saab Gripen E/F, Eurofighter Typhoon, MiG-35, Su-35). Officially the tender is still pending. A newly formed high level panel (May 2025) has recommended fast tracking the MRFA, with an RFP (Request for Proposals) expected soon.
Make in India focus: The program explicitly aims for co-production and tech transfer. The execution model (finalized in 2025) will specify foreign OEMs partnering with Indian firms (likely HAL, Tata, etc.). HAL is thought to be a lead partner. Early briefing suggests the initial batch will be “flyaway” imports, followed by Indian assembly to ramp up capacity. This follows the Rafale model (36 imported + 18 built by HAL) but on a larger scale (114 planes).
Strategic need: The MRFA deal is crucial to reverse squadron decline. As IDRW notes, acquiring 114 modern fighters (over 6 new squadrons) would replace retiring MiG-21/29/Mirage jets and secure technological advantages against China/Pakistan. The delay of a decade (the MMRCA process dragged from 2007 into the 2010s) has already cost the IAF dearly. Now, “the IAF is preparing to move forward” on MRFA. But even with an RFP in late 2025, actual deliveries will not begin until the early 2030s.
In sum, while the MRFA could eventually add valuable squadrons, it remains a future solution. Meanwhile, de facto, the IAF has only about 30 jets per year being inducted (mostly Su-30MKI upgrades, Rafales, and LCAs) – well below the 40/year that leaders say is needed. Critics point out that until MRFA, India’s choices rely heavily on outdated fleets, leaving the force brittle.
