India’s Defence council clears ₹3.25 lakh crore deal to procure 114 Dassault Rafale jets

In a major boost to the Indian Air Force’s combat strength, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Thursday approved the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets, defence, as per reports.

The clearance of the mega ₹3.25 lakh crore deal comes ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India later this month.

Under the proposal, 18 aircraft are expected to be acquired in fly-away condition, while the remaining 96 jets will be manufactured in India as part of a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Some of the aircraft will be twin-seater variants for training purposes. The deal is also expected to include transfer of advanced technologies.

The IAF currently operates 36 Rafale jets in two squadrons, with the final ‘C’ variant delivered in December 2024. In addition, 26 Rafale-Marine (M) variants have been ordered for the Indian Navy in a separate ₹63,000 crore agreement. These naval jets will operate from aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya and include provisions for maintenance, logistics and training support under an MRO framework.

The Rafale fighter jets are equipped with advanced weaponry, including the SCALP air-launched cruise missile, Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, and Hammer precision-guided munitions, along with the Spectra electronic warfare suite and advanced radar systems.

Last year, France and India also announced production transfer agreements between Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited. A new production facility is expected to be set up in Hyderabad to manufacture key structural components of the aircraft, with the first fuselage sections likely to roll out by 2028.

The DAC approval now paves the way for further clearances, including from the Cabinet Committee on Security, before the deal is finalised.

(With inputs from syndicated feed)