India to get 114 Rafale jets as government clears Rs 3.6 lakh crore mega deal
The Defence Acquisition Council on Thursday cleared a major proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets from France, paving the way for one of India’s largest-ever fighter aircraft acquisitions and a significant expansion of domestic defence manufacturing.
In total, capital acquisition of military hardware worth Rs 3.60 lakh crore was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, to enhance the combat readiness of defence forces, according to an official readout.
Of the 114 jets, 90 are planned to be manufactured domestically with around 50 percent indigenous content, while the remaining aircraft are expected to be procured in fly-away condition to meet the Indian Air Force’s immediate operational needs. The programme is designed to combine rapid capability enhancement with a long-term push for self-reliance in defence production.
The clearance comes amid mounting concern over the Indian Air Force’s shrinking fighter squadron strength, which has fallen well below its sanctioned level due to the phased retirement of ageing aircraft and delays in induction of new platforms.
Officials see the expanded Rafale induction as a critical step to plug capability gaps, strengthen deterrence and ensure combat readiness in an increasingly challenging regional security environment.
The approval comes just ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s planned state visit to India later this month, highlighting the growing strategic and defence depth of the India–France partnership.
Manufacturing a large portion of the jets in India is expected to give a substantial boost to the domestic aerospace ecosystem.