New Delhi: France’s reported refusal to share critical source codes for the Rafale fighter jet has emerged as a key friction point in India’s proposed 114-aircraft Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) deal, even as New Delhi pushes for deeper transfer of technology, local manufacturing and higher indigenous content.
The Defence Acquisition Council cleared the proposal for 114 Rafale fighters on February 12, marking the first formal step in the procurement process.
Officially reported negotiations are focused on localisation of Rafales to be built in India, integration of local weapons, and other India-specific requirements, with India seeking 50–60% indigenous content.
Under the model under discussion, 18 aircraft are expected in fly-away condition and 96 would be built in India.
However, The Wire, citing a French outlet, reported that France is unwilling to transfer Rafale’s sensitive source codes, which it describes as proprietary technology developed over decades.
The report also said the UAE has been offered a limited API-based integration pathway rather than full source-code access, while no similar arrangement for India has been publicly confirmed. This specific claim remains report-based and not officially confirmed by Paris or New Delhi.
The proposed 114-jet deal remains under negotiation, with the Defence Ministry telling a parliamentary panel this week that the contract is among the major IAF acquisitions targeted for conclusion in FY 2026–27, indicating that commercial, technical and sovereign-level approvals are still pending.
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