The Indian Defence Ministry has recently flagged the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) proposal for procuring 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA), stating that the submission was “incomplete” and fell short of mandatory requirements for indigenous content under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Officials have reiterated that any foreign vendor must ensure at least 75% local content, highlighting the government’s continued push for self-reliance in defense manufacturing. Dassault Aviation, whose Rafale jets are considered a leading contender, has been asked to participate in renewed discussions focused on a robust domestic production strategy. This comes at a critical juncture, as the IAF’s active combat fleet remains limited to roughly 30 operational squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42. The ministry stressed that successful execution of the MRFA programme would benefit India’s defense ecosystem by fostering partnerships with Indian suppliers and MSMEs, and is expected to address key capability gaps while strengthening the country’s air superiority, with further updates anticipated following high-level meetings in October 2025.