Defence Ministry nod to purchase of 114 Rafale jets ahead of French President Marcon's visit; Navy to get six P8I aircrafts

New Delhi: Ahead of the French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit, the Defence Ministry on Thursday cleared the long awaited purchase of 114 Rafale combat jets from France in a whopping Rs 3.25 lakh crore government-to-government deal for the Indian Air Force that currently operates with a depleted squadron strength.

The Rafale deal constitutes the majority portion of Rs 3.60 lakh crore worth of military projects that received the Acceptance of Necessity (AON) approval – the first step in India’s protracted defence procurement process - from the Defence Advisory Council, headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The aircraft’s manufacturer Dassault Aviation will produce 96 aircraft in India for which it would tie up with local industries, sources said, adding that the remaining 18 wiouldcome in a fly away condition. The 114 aircraft will be a mix of 88 single seater and 26 twin seater (trainer) versions.

The Defence Ministry’s decision is announced before President Macro’s Feb 17-19 visit during which he will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai and participate in the AI Impact Summit in the national capital.

The DAC also green lighted purchase of six additional P8I long range surveillance aircraft from the USA for the Indian Navy at a cost of Rs 28,000 crore; air ship based high altitude pseudo-satellites for the IAF at Rs 15,000 crore and combat missiles for the Rafale aircraft along with a few other military items for the Army and Indian Coast Guard, sources said.

“AoN was approved for the procurement of multi role fighter aircraft (Rafale), combat missiles and air-ship based high altitude pseudo satellite,” a Defence Ministry spokesperson said in a statement.

The deal will finally have to be sanctioned by the Cabinet Committee on Security before the commercial contract is inked.

“The procurement of MRFA will enhance the capability of undertaking air dominance roles across the spectrum of conflict and significantly boost the deterrence capabilities of IAF with long range offensive strikes. The majority of MRFA to be procured will be manufactured in India,” an official said.

The combat missiles such as beyond visual range Meteor, short range Mica and cruise missile Scalp will enhance the aircraft stand-off ground attack capability with deep strike power and very high accuracy.

The government decision to purchase 114 Rafale fighters from France in India’s biggest defence deal comes after 25 years of tumultuous politics to equip the IAF with over six squadrons of medium, multi-role combat jets as a replacement of the MiGs.

The UPA government under Manmohan Singh could not finalise the 126 medium, multi-role combat aircraft deal in 10 years, but it shortlisted the Rafale combat jet from a global competitive tender.

The Modi-led NDA government in 2015 cancelled the MMRCA tender and purchased 36 Rafale aircraft on an emergency basis a year later. The IAF’s two Rafale squadrons are based in Ambala (17 Squadrons – Golden Arrow) and Hasimara (101 Squadrons – Falcons).

On the P8I deal, the spokesperson said, “The acquisition of P8I aircraft will significantly boost the navy’s combat/war-fighting capability of long-range anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance and maritime strike capability.”

The high altitude pseudo satellites will be utilised towards carrying out persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; electronic intelligence; telecommunication and remote sensing for military purposes.