₹3.25 Lakh Crore Agreement: India Signs Deal for Rafale Fighter Jets
India has entered into a significant defence pact with France worth ₹3.25 lakh crore for 114 Rafale fighter jets, aiming to bolster its air force strength amidst declining squadron numbers.
Highlights
- •Rafale Deal Valued at ₹3.25 Lakh Crore
- •94 Jets to Be Manufactured in India
- •French Government Response Expected in 2-3 Months
- •Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh Visiting Dassault Facilities
India has embarked on its largest defence procurement initiative, issuing a Letter of Request (LoR) to France for the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets under a government-to-government deal valued at ₹3.25 lakh crore. This marked the initiation of a significant step in bolstering India's air force capabilities.
Details of the Rafale Deal
The Defence Acquisition Council, presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for this deal in February. The French government is expected to respond within two to three months, with negotiations likely reaching closure within a year.
Under the proposal, 94 aircraft will be manufactured in India by Dassault Aviation alongside an Indian company, while the remaining jets will proceed as fly-away imports from France. India's Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, is currently visiting Dassault Aviation facilities and a missile manufacturer MBDA.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also scheduled a visit to France this month, where the Rafale deal is anticipated to feature prominently in discussions between Indian and French leaderships.
Contextual Background
India chose the 4.5-generation Rafale fighters over offers from the United States and Russia for fifth-generation platforms such as the F-35 and Su-57, despite these newer models offering advanced technological superiority. This decision comes in response to a decline in the Indian Air Force's operational strength, which has reduced its squadron capacity to 30 against a sanctioned number of 42.
The aircraft will be equipped with indigenous weapons systems, even though their source code remains exclusively with France. Additionally, the induction of India's Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mark 1A, intended to replace retired MiG-21 fleets, has been delayed by over a year.
Currently, the Indian Air Force operates 36 Rafale jets, while the Indian Navy holds orders for an additional 26 aircraft. The proposed purchase is expected significantly enhance India's operational readiness and deterrence capabilities across various conflict scenarios.
