India's defence ministry will hold a high-level meeting later this week to discuss a massive proposal for acquiring 114 Rafale fighter jets from France. Official sources confirmed the meeting will focus on this Rs 3.25 lakh crore deal.
Manufacturing in India with Indigenous Content
According to top defence sources, the proposal involves manufacturing the majority of the 114 Rafale aircraft within India. The plan includes indigenous content of around 30 per cent under a government-to-government agreement with France.
The deal also includes plans to procure 12 to 18 Rafale jets in fly-away condition for the Indian Air Force. These ready-to-fly jets would provide immediate operational capability.
Integration of Indian Weapons and Systems
India has asked France to enable integration of Indian weapons and other indigenous systems into the aircraft. However, the source codes will remain with the French side, maintaining their control over core technology.
If approved, this deal would become India's largest-ever defence procurement. It would raise the total number of Rafale jets in Indian service to 176. The Indian Air Force currently operates 36 Rafales, while the Indian Navy placed orders for 26 Rafale-M jets last year.
Proposal Process and Clearance
The Statement of Case for the 114 Rafale jets prepared by the Indian Air Force reached the Defence Ministry several months ago. Once the ministry approves the proposal, it will need final clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security.
This discussion comes at a time when both the United States and Russia have offered their fifth-generation fighter aircraft to India. The US has offered F-35 jets, while Russia has proposed Su-57 aircraft. Despite these competing offers, India continues discussions with France for the Rafale acquisition.
Indigenous Content Expectations
While the indigenous content in the proposed Rafale jets currently stands at around 30 per cent, officials expect this figure to rise during production. The usual requirement under Make in India norms is 50 to 60 per cent indigenous content.
Officials said the indigenous content in Made in India Rafale jets could eventually exceed 60 per cent. This would represent significant progress in India's defence manufacturing capabilities.
Performance in Recent Operations
The decision to push the proposal forward follows the reported performance of Rafale during Operation Sindoor. During this operation, the aircraft successfully countered Chinese PL-15 air-to-air missiles using its Spectra electronic warfare suite.
This demonstrated capability has strengthened the case for acquiring more Rafale jets for India's defence needs.
Maintenance and Manufacturing Facilities
The French side plans to establish a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility for M-88 engines in Hyderabad. These engines power the Rafale fleet.
Dassault Aviation has already set up an entity in India to support maintenance of French-origin fighter aircraft. Indian aerospace companies, including Tata, are likely to participate in manufacturing activities related to the Rafale jets.
India's Fighter Jet Requirements
The Indian Air Force seeks rapid induction of fighter jets to address growing regional security challenges. Its future fighter fleet will centre on several key aircraft types.
The main components of India's future air power include:
- Su-30 MKI aircraft
- Rafale jets
- Indigenous fighter programmes
India has already placed orders for 180 Light Combat Aircraft Mark 1A jets. The country also plans to induct an indigenous fifth-generation fighter aircraft in large numbers beyond 2035.
This proposed Rafale deal represents a significant step in strengthening India's air defence capabilities while boosting domestic manufacturing through the Make in India initiative.
