New Delhi: India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Thursday cleared an initial proposal to buy 114 Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation for Rs 3.25 trillion ($280.4 billion).
The proposal, cleared at the level of Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) by the council chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, envisages the bulk of the jets being built in India.
As many as 90 of the 114 fighter jets are planned to be manufactured in India with around 50 per cent indigenous content, while the remaining aircraft are expected to be procured in fly-away condition to meet the Indian Air Force’s immediate operational needs.
The clearance comes amid concern over the Indian Air Force’s shrinking fighter squadron strength – down to 29, well below the approved number of 42 — due to the phased retirement of ageing aircraft and delays in induction of new platforms.
Manufacturing a large number of the jets in India will provide a substantial boost to the domestic aerospace ecosystem. The plan involves extensive participation by Indian industry, technology transfer from the French manufacturer, and the creation of a local supply chain for components, systems and maintenance.
The DAC approval comes just ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to India later this month, highlighting the growing strategic and defence depth of the India-France partnership.
The Rafale proposal is also seen as reinforcing strategic defence partnership between India and France, which has deepened steadily over the past decade. India already operates Rafale jets inducted under an earlier deal, and the aircraft is considered a key element of the Air Force’s frontline capabilities due to its advanced avionics, weapons package and multi-role performance.
Following DAC’s approval, the proposal will move to the next stages of procurement process, including scrutiny by the Cabinet Committee on Security and detailed commercial negotiations.
