New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): In a major push to strengthen its air power, India has approved a proposal worth ₹3.25 lakh crore for the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), making it the largest defence acquisition in the country’s history, according to media reports.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the project ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s scheduled visit to India.
Under the proposed framework, 18 aircraft will be purchased in fly-away condition from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation, while the remaining 96 jets will be produced domestically under a strategic partnership model. The deal is expected to include transfer of advanced technology, in line with the government’s push to boost indigenous defence manufacturing under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The proposal will now be submitted to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for final approval.
The Rafale procurement is part of a broader set of defence approvals worth approximately ₹3.60 lakh crore cleared by the DAC for the armed forces.
For the IAF, the council also cleared advanced long-range precision combat missiles and an Air-Ship Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (AS-HAPS) system. The platform is designed to provide continuous Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), electronic intelligence, telecommunications and remote sensing capabilities.
The acquisition falls under the Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme, aimed at enhancing the IAF’s operational readiness and air superiority across diverse combat scenarios.
The Army received approval for the procurement of Vibhav anti-tank mines to strengthen defensive obstacle systems against mechanised threats. For the Navy, AoN was granted under the Make-I category for a 4 MW Marine Gas Turbine-based Electric Power Generator.
Additionally, the DAC approved the purchase of more P-8I Poseidon long-range maritime patrol aircraft to enhance anti-submarine warfare, surveillance and maritime strike capabilities.
The Indian Coast Guard will also procure Electro-Optical and Infra-Red (EO/IR) systems for its Dornier aircraft to improve maritime domain awareness.
Currently, the IAF operates 36 Rafale jets across two squadrons, with the final aircraft delivered in December 2024. Separately, India has ordered 26 Rafale-M naval variants for the Indian Navy under a ₹63,000 crore agreement. These carrier-based aircraft will operate from INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya and include provisions for maintenance, logistics and training under a comprehensive support framework.
