India Approves Rs 3.60 Lakh Crore Defence Deals Including 114 Rafales

India's Defence Acquisition Council on Thursday approved a series of major procurements worth approximately Rs 3.60 lakh crore to bolster the combat capabilities of its armed forces, including a long-awaited plan to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets from France.

The council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, granted Acceptance of Necessity for the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft program, focusing on the Rafale jets manufactured by Dassault Aviation. The deal, estimated at Rs 3.25 lakh crore, marks a significant expansion of the Indian Air Force's fleet, which currently operates 36 Rafale aircraft acquired in 2015 under a government-to-government agreement. The new package includes 88 single-seat fighters and 26 twin-seat trainers for land-based operations, along with advanced weapon systems, simulators, spare parts, training, and maintenance support. Officials indicated that 18 jets will arrive in flyaway condition, while the remaining 96 will be assembled in India, with up to 60 percent indigenous content to align with the government's Make in India initiative.

The approval comes amid a sharp decline in the Indian Air Force's squadron strength, which has fallen to 31 from...