India’s Defence Ministry has kicked off talks on a massive proposal from the Indian Air Force to buy 114 Made in India Rafale fighter jets. These advanced aircraft will be built by French company Dassault Aviation, teaming up with Indian aerospace firms like Tata. The deal could be worth over Rs 2 lakh crore and promises more than 60% indigenous content, boosting India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
This procurement push comes at a time when India urgently needs more fighter jets to tackle rising regional threats. The Indian Air Force’s fleet is set to focus on Su-30 MKIs, Rafales, and homegrown projects like the 180 LCA Mark1A jets already ordered. Looking ahead, India plans to add large numbers of indigenous fifth-generation fighters after 2035.
The proposal, called the Statement of Case (SoC), landed at the Defence Ministry just days ago. It’s now under review by various teams, including Defence Finance. Soon, it’ll head to the Defence Procurement Board, led by the Defence Secretary, and then the Defence Acquisition Council for final nods, sources told .
If approved, this would become India’s biggest-ever defence deal. It would bump up the total Rafale count in the armed forces to 176. The IAF already flies 36 of them, while the Navy has ordered another 36 through government-to-government pacts.
The timing feels spot on after the Rafale’s stellar show in Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. The jets outsmarted China’s PL-15 air-to-air missiles using their cutting-edge Spectra Electronic Warfare suite. Plus, these new Made in India versions might pack longer-range air-to-ground missiles, going beyond the Scalp missiles that struck military and terrorist targets inside Pakistan.
On the manufacturing front, Dassault is eyeing a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility for the Rafale’s M-88 engines in Hyderabad. They’ve already set up a company for maintaining French-origin jets, and Indian partners will play a big role in production.
This move highlights India’s drive for stronger air power amid security challenges. Stay tuned as discussions heat up in the coming weeks!
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