India has cleared its largest defence purchase ever, approving a Rs 3.25 lakh crore proposal to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets. Most of these aircraft are set to be manufactured in India through a strategic partnership.
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114 Rafale Jets Incoming
The decision was taken by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, which granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to the Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme. The clearance comes just ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s upcoming visit to New Delhi, highlighting the strategic importance of the India-France defence relationship.
Under the plan, 18 Rafale jets will be procured off-the-shelf from French defence manufacturer Dassault Aviation, while the remaining 96 aircraft will be built in India. The deal is expected to include the transfer of advanced fighter jet technology and is designed to significantly strengthen the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative in the defence sector. The proposal now requires final approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Rafale approval forms part of a broader Rs 3.60 lakh crore package cleared by the DAC for all three armed forces. For the Indian Air Force, clearances were also granted for Combat Missiles to enhance long-range precision strike capability and for an Air-Ship Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (AS-HAPS) platform aimed at boosting intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic intelligence capabilities. Officials said the MRFA programme will significantly strengthen the IAF’s ability to undertake air dominance missions across the full spectrum of conflict and enhance India’s deterrence posture.
The Indian Air Force currently operates 36 Rafale jets across two squadrons, with the final ‘C’ variant delivered in December 2024. Separately, India has already signed a Rs 63,000 crore deal for 26 Rafale ‘M’ carrier-based fighters for the Navy, which will operate from INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya under a comprehensive maintenance and logistics support arrangement.
With the proposed addition of 114 more aircraft, the Rafale will become the backbone of India’s future air combat fleet.
Indian Army To Procure Anti-Tank Mines And More
The Indian Army received approvals for the procurement of Vibhav anti-tank mines intended to delay advancing enemy mechanised forces, along with the overhaul and life extension of Armoured Recovery Vehicles, T-72 tanks and BMP-II Infantry Combat Vehicles. The Indian Navy was cleared to procure a 04 MW Marine Gas Turbine-based Electric Power Generator under the Make-I category, as well as additional P-8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft to enhance anti-submarine warfare and maritime strike capabilities. The Indian Coast Guard will also induct advanced Electro-Optical and Infra-Red systems for its Dornier aircraft fleet.
