New Delhi, Jan 16: The Defence Procurement Board on Friday cleared a high-stakes proposal to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation. The proposal, finalized during a meeting led by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, marks a critical step toward addressing the Indian Air Force’s urgent requirement for modern combat aircraft.
The acquisition is now set to move to the Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, before a final decision by the Cabinet Committee on Security. Officials noted that the deal is expected to be finalized during a scheduled summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in February. The jets will be acquired under a ‘Make in India’ scheme, involving significant local partnerships and technology transfer.
The choice of the Rafale platform is intended to streamline logistics and training, as the Indian Air Force already operates 36 units and the Navy has ordered 26 marine variants. Increasing the fleet size is expected to significantly lower long-term maintenance costs. “Increasing numbers would reduce maintenance costs,” a source mentioned, pointing to the existing maintenance and training infrastructure already operational at the Ambala air base.
Importantly, defense sources confirmed that this procurement will not impact India’s indigenous fighter programs, such as the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft and the Tejas Mark-2. All domestic jet timelines and budgets have been planned separately. Under the new deal, Dassault will integrate Indian weapons and sensors while providing secure data links for digital integration with ground-based controllers.
The French manufacturer and its suppliers, including engine maker Safran and avionics provider Thales, will provide a transfer of technology for making airframes and other components. Officials noted that the indigenous content is expected to reach up to 60 percent once the transfer of technology is complete. This move is seen as a major boost for the domestic aerospace industry while strengthening the country’s aerial defense capabilities.
