India is set to acquire 114 Rafale jets from France in a major defence deal, which is poised to be worth a whopping Rs 3.25 lakh crore after Defence Minister Rajanth Singh-led Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the proposal. Out of this, around 2.5 lakh crore is dedicated to the aircraft, while the rest has been earmarked for weapons, spares and essential support packages.
The DAC has also approved the acquisition of 6 additional P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft, costing about 28,000 crore. These aircraft are vital for enhancing the Indian Navy's anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance capabilities, especially in the increasingly contested waters of the Indian Ocean Region.
The decision is poised to significantly boost the Indian Air Force's operational and combat capabilities. It comes just a few weeks before French President Emmanuel Macron visits India later this month, and it is expected that the deal is likely to be signed then.
As per the plan, 18 jets will be delivered in fly-away condition, while the remaining 96 will be assembled in India. Nearly 80 per cent of the fleet is expected to be manufactured domestically, with indigenous content potentially rising to 60 per cent under the Make in India
High altitude platform systems get the nod
A major technological upgrade is also on the cards with the approval of High Altitude Platform Systems worth approximately Rs 15,000 crore. These long-endurance pseudo-satellite aircraft are crucial for ISR needs as they offer persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities that are essential for modern warfare.
Rafale fighter jets are manufactured by French defence major Dassault Aviation. The Indian Air Force currently has 36 Rafale jets in its fleet. The first 5 Rafale aircraft for the Indian Air Force arrived at Air Force Station Ambala in July 2020 and were subsequently inducted into service. India currently operates 2 Rafale squadrons, No 17 ‘Golden Arrows’ based in Ambala, Haryana, and No 101 ‘Falcons’ based in Hasimara, West Bengal. The Indian Air Force formally inducted the Rafale aircraft into No 101 Squadron at Air Force Station Hasimara in July 2021.
Rafale fighter jet features
Rafale is a 4.5-generation, twin-engine, multirole fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation of France. It is known for its versatility, advanced avionics and ability to carry out a wide range of missions.
Rafale can perform air superiority, ground attack, reconnaissance, anti-ship strikes and nuclear deterrence missions in a single sortie. It is designed for omni-role operations, meaning it can switch between mission types during flight.
It is equipped with a highly integrated avionics suite, including a glass cockpit, helmet-mounted sights and advanced mission computers that fuse data from multiple sensors to give pilots better situational awareness.
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