India has approved a massive proposal worth ₹3.25 lakh crore to procure 114 Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), marking the largest defence acquisition in the country’s history.
The clearance was granted by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, which accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to the programme. The decision comes ahead of the upcoming official visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to New Delhi.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
According to sources, the proposal предусматривает the purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets from France. Of these, 18 aircraft will be acquired in a fly-away condition from French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, while the remaining 96 jets will be manufactured in India.
The deal is expected to include the transfer of advanced fighter aircraft technology and will be structured as a strategic partnership to strengthen the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Following the Defence Ministry’s approval, the proposal will now require final clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Once concluded, the acquisition is expected to significantly enhance the IAF’s combat capabilities and bolster India’s domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
