The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the deal, estimated at Rs 3.25 lakh crore, marks one of India’s largest-ever fighter aircraft acquisitions. The decision comes ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s upcoming visit to India.
The Indian Air Force is currently operating around 29 fighter squadrons against the sanctioned strength of 42, highlighting an urgent need to strengthen its fleet amid rising security challenges along India’s western and northern borders.
Under the proposed plan, 18 aircraft will be delivered in fly-away condition, while 96 jets will be assembled in India. Nearly 80 per cent of the fleet is expected to be manufactured domestically, with indigenous content potentially reaching 60 per cent under the Make in India initiative. The IAF will induct 88 single-seat and 26 twin-seat variants.
Dassault Aviation, the French manufacturer of Rafale jets, is likely to collaborate with Indian private sector companies for local production, boosting India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem. Currently, the IAF operates two Rafale squadrons based in Ambala and Hasimara.
