RFP seeks support for all 36 Rafales
An Air Headquarters Request for Proposal (RFP), issued in June and accessed by India Today, invites bids for a five-month bridge support package covering all 36 Rafale fighter aircraft — the same number India procured from France under the government-to-government agreement signed in 2016.
The document seeks maintenance, logistics and technical support to sustain the fleet beyond September 2026, with an estimated 2,250 flying hours planned during the five-month support period.
The bridge support arrangement is intended to ensure uninterrupted operations until a long-term support contract is finalised.
Document undermines Pakistan's narrative
The RFP directly undermines Pakistan's narrative that several Indian Rafale jets were destroyed during Operation Sindoor, India's military operation launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
Had any aircraft been lost, the fleet strength reflected in the maintenance proposal would likely have been lower.
Pakistan had repeatedly claimed through official statements and coordinated social media campaigns that its forces shot down multiple Indian Rafale fighters during the operation.
India consistently dismissed those assertions as disinformation, accusing Islamabad of running a propaganda campaign to undermine the success of the IAF's operations.
Earlier evidence had raised doubts
The latest development adds to earlier evidence that had already cast doubt on Pakistan's claims.
Several Rafale aircraft bearing tail numbers that Pakistani social media accounts had claimed were "destroyed" were later photographed and recorded participating in operational flying, further weakening Islamabad's assertions.
Rafales played a key role in Operation Sindoor
The Rafale fleet played a central role during Operation Sindoor, carrying out precision strikes against targets inside Pakistan.
Defence officials have maintained that the aircraft performed as intended during the operation and have repeatedly rejected claims of any combat losses.
The June 2026 tender is now the latest official record reinforcing India's position that its Rafale fleet remains intact, delivering another setback to Pakistan's repeated claims about the aircraft's destruction.
India eyes 114 more Rafale jets
Meanwhile, India is moving ahead with plans to procure 114 additional Rafale fighter jets from French defence major Dassault Aviation under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme.
The proposed acquisition was discussed during recent talks between Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron.
The Ministry of External Affairs said discussions on the Rafale programme have progressed, with Prime Minister Modi emphasising the "Make in India" initiative and advocating a framework based on co-development, co-design and co-production for future defence projects between India and France.
Under the MRFA programme, 18 Rafale aircraft are expected to be delivered in flyaway condition, while the remaining jets will be manufactured in India with around 50 per cent indigenous content.