New Delhi, June 23: In 2016, India and France signed a deal for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets. The Indian Air Force has received all 36 jets on schedule.
The main contract included a five-year performance-based logistics (PBL) support agreement. This arrangement was later extended for another five years in 2021. The contract is set to expire at the end of September 2026.
Currently, the process for a new long-term logistics support contract is underway. Further action will follow once approval is granted by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). In the meantime, a Request for Proposal (RFP) for bridge support under the PBL has been issued as an interim measure.
According to defense officials, this RFP has been published on the e-procurement portal. The document states that the Indian Air Force operates 36 Rafale jets, purchased from Dassault Aviation under the India-France agreement dated September 23, 2016. As per the contract, essential equipment, spare parts, consumables, and maintenance support for five years were provided alongside the aircraft. This arrangement was designed based on an average of 150 flight hours per aircraft annually, including spare parts for maintaining ground support equipment (GSE) and ground handling equipment (GHE).
The current PBL arrangement will conclude on September 18, 2026. To ensure smooth operations of the Rafale fleet for the next five months, a proposal for a bridge support contract has been requested. This bridge support will cover the operation of the 36 Rafale jets, with each fighter jet expected to fly 150 hours annually. The total estimated flight time for the five-month period is approximately 2,250 hours.
The issuance of this RFP does not imply that the Rafale jets are out of service or facing significant availability issues. Defense officials clarify that such RFPs should not be interpreted as indicators of the Rafale fleet’s availability, operational capability, or maintenance problems. It is merely a routine and interim logistics arrangement to ensure uninterrupted operations of the Rafale fleet until the new long-term contract is implemented. The bridge support proposal has been issued to Safran Aircraft Engines, a key original equipment manufacturer (OEM) associated with the Rafale ecosystem.
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