The Defence Ministry is poised to greenlight a massive Rs 3.25 lakh crore agreement to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets from France for the Indian Air Force. This decision is anticipated to occur before French President Emmanuel Macron’s upcoming official visit to Delhi. Following the Defence Ministry’s nod, the deal will require clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India’s proposal entails the acquisition of 18 ready-made Rafales from French defense major Dassault Aviation, with the remaining 96 jets to be manufactured in India. Some of these aircraft will be twin-seaters designated for training purposes. The deal will encompass the transfer of cutting-edge fighter jet technology and a strategic alliance to bolster the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Currently, the Indian Air Force operates 36 Rafales across two squadrons, with the final delivery of the ‘C’ variant completed in December 2024. Additionally, 26 Rafale jets of the ‘M’ version have been ordered for the Indian Navy in a Rs 63,000 crore deal. These naval variants are intended for deployment on the INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya aircraft carriers.
The agreement also includes provisions for fleet maintenance, logistics support, and personnel training under a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) pact. The Rafale jets were notably utilized in Operation Sindoor to target specific sites in Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror incident last year. These jets were instrumental in launching the SCALP air-launched cruise missile, capable of striking precise targets over 250 km away with exceptional accuracy.
In a separate development, France and India announced four key production transfer agreements between Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited last year. These agreements are expected to expedite the delivery of Rafales to India. Tata Advanced Systems is slated to establish a state-of-the-art production facility in Hyderabad for manufacturing crucial structural components of the French fighter jets. The initial fuselage segments are projected to commence production in 2028.
