Ministry of Defense to Consider IAF’s 114 Rafale Jet Acquisition
The Ministry of Defense is thoroughly evaluating a proposal to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets from France amounting to Rs.3.25 lakh crore. This proposal was brought forth after the Indian Air Force submitted a detailed 'statement of case' for the procurement to the Ministry of Defense.
Reports have indicated that India aims to manufacture a significant quantity of Rafale fighter aircraft within the country, incorporating approximately 30 percent domestically sourced materials.
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Concurrently, the Indian Air Force is set to acquire over 12 aircraft in ready-to-fly condition directly from France.
The proposal includes plans to produce a majority of the Rafale jets in India with a domestic component of approximately 30 percent. It is expected that 12-18 aircraft will be purchased in ready-to-use condition for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The issue is anticipated to be addressed during an upcoming high-level meeting at the Defense Ministry within the next two to three days. In addition to the government-to-government agreement, India is requesting approval from France to incorporate Indian weaponry and other domestic systems onto the Rafale platform, according to reports. Nevertheless, the source codes will continue to be controlled by the French.
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If sanctioned, the agreement would represent the most significant defense procurement in India's history and increase the total Rafale aircraft in the Indian military to 176. Presently, the Indian Air Force has 36 Rafale jets in operation, with an additional 26 Rafale-M jets ordered by the Indian Navy in the previous year. India is proceeding with the Rafale deal amidst offers from both the United States and Russia for their fifth-generation fighter aircraft, the F-35 and the Su-57, to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Reports say that the current level of indigenous content in the aircraft stands at approximately 30 percent, falling short of the typical requirement of 50-60 percent outlined in the Make in India guidelines.
However, it is suggested that the Made-in-India Rafale fighters may see a significant increase in indigenous content, potentially exceeding 60 percent in the future.
The decision to advance the proposal has been made in light of the Rafale's impressive performance against Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, where it effectively neutralized Chinese PL-15 air-to-air missiles with the utilization of its Spectra electronic warfare suite.
Within the comprehensive plan, France also intends to establish a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility for the M-88 engines utilized in Rafale jets in Hyderabad. Dassault has already formed a division dedicated to maintaining French-made fighter aircraft in India, with Indian aerospace companies, specifically Tata, anticipated to have a significant involvement in production and assistance. India's accelerated efforts to expedite the induction of fighter jets are in response to escalating regional security threats.
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The Indian Air Force's forthcoming composition is anticipated to revolve around the Su-30 MKI fleet, Rafales, and domestically-developed fighter programs. India has already initiated orders for 180 LCA Tejas Mark 1A aircraft and intends to introduce its native fifth-generation fighter aircraft in significant quantities post the year 2035.