Overview
- The Indian Air Force issued an Air Headquarters RFP on June 23, 2026 seeking a five‑month bridge‑support package for all 36 Rafale jets and planning roughly 2,250 flying hours.
- The tender asks Safran and other suppliers for interim maintenance, logistics and technical support to keep the fleet serviceable until a long‑term Performance Based Logistics contract is finalised.
- Pakistan had publicly claimed multiple Rafales were shot down after Operation Sindoor, but those claims were countered by operational sightings and the RFP’s use of the full authorised fleet number.
- Defence experts caution that sustainment tenders normally use authorised fleet figures and projected utilisation, so the RFP is strong corroboration but not on‑its‑own forensic proof of combat losses.
- The document comes as India advances talks with France on a proposed 114‑aircraft MRFA purchase that would include co‑development and local manufacture and will keep logistics and industrial partners such as Dassault and Safran central to sustainment plans.