India has taken a significant step in enhancing its air power by issuing a Letter of Request (LoR) to France for the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets, valued at approximately ₹3.25 lakh crore (around $39.3 billion USD). The request, submitted by the Defence Ministry's Acquisition Wing, proposes that 94 of these jets be manufactured in India through a partnership between French aerospace company Dassault Aviation and an Indian firm. The French government is anticipated to respond to this request within the next two to three months. This deal is particularly crucial as the Indian Air Force is currently facing a critical shortage of fighter squadrons, prompting efforts to bolster its fleet with advanced aircraft. The negotiations for this deal are expected to be concluded within the next year, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to France in mid-June, where the Rafale deal is likely to be a key topic of discussion.