India has cleared a major proposal to buy French made Rafale fighter jets moving ahead with one of the most significant defence procurement steps in years. Officials in New Delhi say the Defence Acquisition Council approved the purchase of roughly $39 billion worth of equipment including the proposed acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets from France ahead of a scheduled visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The move comes as the Indian Air Force’s fleet has shrunk with only 29 operable jets compared with a sanctioned strength of 42 a gap officials say these new aircraft will help close. The Rafale jets built by France’s Dassault Aviation are expected to significantly boost India’s air dominance and long range strike capabilities.
Under the proposal a majority of the aircraft could be manufactured in India supporting domestic industry under the government’s “Make in India” initiative. Media reports suggest a lucrative part of the deal could involve at least 90 jets being produced locally through collaboration with Indian partners.
The clearance by the Defence Council is an important step but final contracts still require commercial negotiations and approval by India’s Cabinet Committee on Security before jets can be ordered and delivered.
New Delhi has been seeking to diversify its defence sources reducing reliance on Russian equipment in favor of Western technology and this Rafale acquisition alongside a $39 billion package of other military hardware is seen as a key part of that strategy.
