New Delhi: The Indian Air Force has submitted a formal proposal to the defence ministry seeking approval for the acquisition of 114 additional Rafale fighter jets under the “Make in India” framework, several media outlets reported. If this proposal gets the government’s green signal, it could become the country’s largest defence procurement deal worth approximately ₹2 lakh crore ($24 billion).
According to some of those reports, the proposal, detailed in a “statement of case” submitted to the ministry, envisages manufacturing the aircraft domestically through collaboration between French manufacturer Dassault Aviation and Indian aerospace companies, with over 60% indigenous content mandated under government policy.
Operation Sindoor context
The timing of the proposal follows Operation Sindoor in May, during which IAF Rafale jets conducted precision strikes against Pakistani targets. The operation reportedly validated the aircraft’s advanced capabilities, particularly its Spectra electronic warfare suite’s effectiveness against Chinese-manufactured PL-15 air-to-air missiles deployed by Pakistan.
The operation highlighted India’s need for modern fighters capable of countering sophisticated threats from both Pakistan’s Chinese-equipped J-10C aircraft and China’s advanced air platforms, defence analysts said.
