India’s Air Defence Boost: Centre Clears Procurement Of 114 Rafale Jets In Rs 3.25 Lakh Crore Deal

New Delhi: India is set to acquire 114 additional Rafale fighter jets with the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) clearing the proposal for the deal to procure the fighter aircrafts that could strengthen the Indian Air Force's (IAF) combat capability. According to reports, the proposal will now be placed before the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, for further approval.

Amidst growing concerns over the IAF’s steadily declining squadron strength, which has dropped to 29 squadrons, well below the authorised strength of 42.5 squadrons required to effectively counter a possible two-front challenge from China and Pakistan, the latest development in Defence is welcomed by the experts.

Reportedly, the talks on expanding the Rafale fleet have been intensified between India and France, with New Delhi and Paris conducting various rounds of talks to finalise the agreement during a proposed meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in February. The push for additional Rafales comes against the backdrop of a sharp fall in the IAF's fighter squadron numbers, which worsened after the retirement of the MiG-21 fleet last year, further depleting the Air Force's combat inventory.

The IAF has clearly projected an urgent operational requirement for additional Rafales to arrest the ongoing depletion in fighter squadrons, said a defence source. While a final decision will be taken once the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) proposal is placed before the DAC, the Rafale is increasingly being viewed as the quickest way to bridge critical operational gaps.

Urgent Need For Rafale Jets

The IAF's fighter squadron numbers have dropped to 29, well below the authorised strength of 42.5 squadrons required to effectively counter a two-front challenge from China and Pakistan. Notably, each squadron typically operates 16 to 18 aircraft. After the retirement of the MiG-21 fleet last year, the situation worsened, further depleting the Air Force's combat inventory.

The defence experts stated that the Air Force had raised an alarm regarding an urgent operational requirement for additional Rafales. The Rafale is increasingly being viewed as the quickest way to bridge critical operational gaps.

Rafale Deal To Boost ‘Make In India’

The experts suggested that any expanded Rafale deal is expected to carry a strong 'Make in India' push. India has already contracted 24 Rafale-M aircraft for the Navy, which provides a pricing and contractual benchmark for a follow-on order for the Air Force. The industrial cooperation between Indian and French defence firms is also expanding, with Tata Advanced Systems Limited partnering with Dassault Aviation to manufacture key Rafale fuselage sections at a facility in Hyderabad.

The parallel initiatives under discussion include plans for an engine manufacturing facility in Hyderabad and a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub in Uttar Pradesh’s Jewar.

IAF Flagged Delays In Indigenous Projects

The urgency has been compounded by delays in the induction of the indigenous LCA Tejas Mk1A. The Air Force has ordered 83 Mk1A jets, with an additional 97 cleared by the DAC, but deliveries have slipped due to supply chain disruptions, engine availability issues and production ramp-up challenges.

Earlier, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh had said, "Delays in the Mk1A programme have widened the capability gap created by the phased retirement of legacy platforms." The acquisition of additional Rafale fighter jets would be crucial to India's air defence.