India clears purchase of 114 Rafale jets in Rs 3.25 Lakh crore deal

In a significant move aimed at strengthening India’s aerial combat capability, the government has cleared the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets in a mega deal valued at approximately Rs 3.25 lakh crore. The approval, granted by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marks one of the largest fighter aircraft acquisitions in the country’s history. The development comes ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit later this month.

Defence sources said the DAC accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the ambitious programme. The Defence Procurement Board, chaired by the Defence Secretary, had already cleared the proposal last month, paving the way for formal negotiations with French aerospace major Dassault Aviation.

The decision gains importance as the Indian Air Force (IAF) currently operates around 29 fighter squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42, amid heightened security concerns along the western and northern borders.

Manufacturing Plan and Indigenous Push

Under the approved plan, 18 Rafale jets will be delivered in fly-away condition, while 96 will be assembled in India. Around 80 per cent of the fleet is expected to be manufactured domestically, with indigenous content projected to reach up to 60 per cent under the Make in India initiative.

The IAF is set to induct 88 single-seat and 26 twin-seat variants. Dassault Aviation is likely to collaborate with Indian private sector firms for local assembly, manufacturing and maintenance, further strengthening India’s defence production ecosystem.

India inducted its first Rafale jets in July 2020 at Ambala. Currently, two squadrons, No. 17 “Golden Arrows” in Ambala and No. 101 “Falcons” in Hasimara are operational.

The latest clearance signals a decisive step toward modernising the IAF and reinforcing India’s strategic air power capabilities.