Blurb: Major push to air power as India approves large-scale Rafale acquisition ahead of Macron visit.
New Delhi
In a significant boost to the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Defence Ministry on Thursday approved a Rs 3.25 lakh crore proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets from France, according to reliable sources.
The clearance was granted by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, which accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to the ambitious programme. The approval comes just ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s forthcoming official visit to New Delhi, underscoring the strategic depth of India-France defence ties.
Following the Defence Ministry’s nod, the proposal will now require final clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Under the proposal, India will acquire 18 Rafale jets in fly-away condition from French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, while the remaining 96 aircraft will be manufactured in India. Some of these will be twin-seater variants intended for training purposes. The deal is expected to include the transfer of advanced fighter jet technology and the establishment of a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The IAF currently operates 36 Rafale jets across two squadrons, with the final delivery of the ‘C’ variant completed in December 2024. Additionally, India has placed an order for 26 Rafale ‘M’ naval variants for the Indian Navy in a separate Rs 63,000 crore deal. These carrier-based fighters will operate from INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. The naval contract also covers maintenance, logistics support, and training under a comprehensive MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) arrangement.
The Rafale jets have already demonstrated operational capability during Operation Sindoor, where they were deployed to strike precision targets in Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror attack last year. Equipped with advanced weaponry, the aircraft can deploy the SCALP air-launched cruise missile capable of striking hardened targets over 250 km away. They also carry Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles, Hammer stand-off precision-guided weapons, and the Spectra electronic warfare suite, along with advanced radar and targeting systems.
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Highlights
* Valued at around Rs 3.25 lakh crore, the deal ranks among India’s largest fighter aircraft procurements.
* This decision strengthens France’s position as one of India’s most reliable long-term defence partners.