New Delhi: The defence ministry has granted approval for the acquisition of 26 naval variant Rafale jets from France, according to sources familiar with the matter. The decision was made during a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Paris.
In addition to the Rafale jets, the DAC also greenlit a proposal for the construction of three more Scorpene submarines in India. The announcement of these significant defence projects is expected following extensive discussions between Prime Minister Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday.
The DAC’s approval follows the clearance of these projects by the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) approximately a week ago. The Indian Navy aims to procure 26 deck-based fighter jets for the indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. After an extensive evaluation process, Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet and Dassault Aviation’s Rafale M emerged as the top contenders. Ultimately, the naval variant Rafale-M emerged as the winner in the closely contested selection process.
It is worth noting that India has already procured 36 Rafale jets from France for the Indian Air Force. This acquisition marks a significant milestone as it is India’s first major purchase of fighter planes in 23 years since the import of Sukhoi jets from Russia.
Another significant project involving France is the follow-on order for three Scorpene submarines. Under Project 75, India has already manufactured six Scorpene submarines domestically.
The procurement of the naval variant Rafale jets and the construction of additional Scorpene submarines demonstrate India’s commitment to bolstering its naval capabilities and strengthening its defence forces.
