New Delhi: India is moving closer towards finalising a huge defence acquisition as the Defence Ministry is set to propose to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets from France at a high-level meeting. It will be the largest defence purchase in Indian history, as the deal is estimated at around Rs 3.25 lakh crore.
Around 12 to 18 Rafale flying jets in fly-away condition will be bought under the proposal, while the remaining will be made in India with an indigenous content of about 30 per cent.
Additionally, India is also looking for the integration of indigenous weapons and systems on the French-origin aircraft. However, France will hold the source code, even as limited integration permissions are expected under the deal, according to the defence sources.,
Why did India choose Rafale fighter jets despite other offers?
The USA and Russia pitched their fifth-generation fighters, the F-35 and Su-57, to the Indian Air Force, but with the Rafale jets’ performance during Operation Sindoor, the Indian defence tilted towards the Rafale deal.
The Rafale fighter jets reportedly outclassed Chinese-origin PL-15 air-to-air missiles using the advanced Spectra electronic warfare suite.
If the deal is finalised, then India’s Rafale jets will rise to 176 aircraft, including 36 Rafales. The Indian Navy also ordered 26 naval variants in 2025.
The proposal is named as the Statement of Case (SoC), prepared by the IAF, followed by the submission to the Defence Ministry last year. If the defence ministry approves the proposal, then it will go to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
India is pushing towards Rafale acquisitions to strengthen national security amid rising regional security challenges. The IAF’s future combat fleet is expected to revolve around Indian Air Force platforms such as the Su-30 MKI, Rafale, and indigenous fighter programmes.
Earlier, India ordered 180 LCA Tejas Mk-1A jets, but the officials stated that the gaps must be filled to maintain operational readiness.