Mega Rafale Deal Gets Government Nod !

The Central Government has reportedly given the green signal for the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets from France in a major defence deal valued at approximately ₹3.25 lakh crore. The Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved the proposal, according to official sources. In addition, the government has also cleared a separate deal to procure six P-8i maritime surveillance aircraft for the Indian Navy. The Rafale acquisition is expected to significantly enhance the combat capability of the Indian Air Force.

French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit India in the second half of this month, and the formal signing of the agreement is expected during the visit. As per the proposed structure of the deal, 18 Rafale jets will be delivered in fly-away condition, while the remaining 96 aircraft will be assembled in India under the Make in India initiative. Dassault Aviation is expected to partner with Indian private sector firms for local manufacturing and assembly. Currently, the Indian Air Force operates 36 Rafale fighter jets.