NEW DELHI, October 2: India is aiming to conclude the proposed acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force by the end of the current financial year, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh has said. The planned deal will also place significant emphasis on manufacturing in India and integrating indigenous weapons and systems with the aircraft.
Rafale Procurement Could Conclude by FY-End
The government is currently assessing proposals submitted as part of the procurement process.
The Defence Secretary said authorities expect to reach a conclusion in the procurement cycle before the end of the current financial year.
Bulk of Aircraft to Be Assembled in India
The proposed acquisition is being structured as a buy-and-make programme, with the majority of the 114 aircraft expected to be assembled in India.
The plan is intended to increase domestic participation in one of India’s biggest fighter-aircraft procurement programmes.
Indian Weapons to Be Integrated With Rafale
A major feature of the programme will be the integration of Indian-made weapons and systems with the Rafale platform.
France has indicated willingness to provide the technical flexibility needed for India to integrate indigenous armaments without requiring complete access to the fighter’s sensitive source code.
Indigenisation to Be Major Part of Deal
India is seeking significantly higher levels of domestic content in the new Rafale programme.
Indian companies are expected to participate in aircraft assembly, components, maintenance and potentially other parts of the Rafale supply chain.
Rafale Marine Deal Already Includes Indian Weapons
India has already contracted 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for the Indian Navy under a separate agreement with France.
The French side has also agreed to integrate Indian weapons with those aircraft, providing a foundation for deeper indigenous integration in the proposed 114-jet programme.
Deal Aims to Strengthen IAF Fighter Fleet
The Indian Air Force currently faces pressure from declining fighter squadron strength.
The additional Rafales are expected to strengthen the IAF’s combat capability while other indigenous fighter programmes, including the LCA Tejas variants and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, continue to progress.
LCA and AMCA Programmes Continue
The Rafale acquisition is not expected to replace India’s indigenous fighter-development programmes.
The government continues to pursue the LCA Mk1A, LCA Mk2 and AMCA projects, with domestic aircraft expected to form an increasingly important part of the IAF fleet.
Final Approval Still Required
The proposed 114-Rafale acquisition has not yet reached the final contract stage.
The government must complete technical and commercial evaluations and other required approval processes before a contract can be formally signed.
If negotiations proceed according to the current schedule, greater clarity on the acquisition could emerge before the end of the financial year.
Source – Times of India / India Today / Defence Ministry
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