The Indian government is mulling a Rs 3.25 lakh crore deal with France for the purchase of 114 Rafale jets — its largest defence deal till date. The proposal includes plans to build around 80% of the combat aircraft within the country and use of approximately 30% indigenous content. The matter was reportedly discussed during a high-level meeting earlier this week and remains under consideration by the Defence Ministry.
According to an ANI report, the project would also see some of the manufacturing facilities being shifted from France to India. Cost negotiations remain underway, and New Delhi is also making efforts to maximise the localised content in the deal. Government sources told the publication that there are plans to set up the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility within India to maximise the serviceability of the planes.
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Made in India?
The Indian side has reportedly asked France to enable the integration of Indian weapons and other indigenous systems into the French aircraft under the government-to-government deal. The plan will see a large number of parts and systems of the Rafales to be built in India, but the source codes will remain with the French side.
There is reportedly a possibility of the French Dassault Aviation using an Indian entity for export orders and offering Indian facilities as a hub for MRO for countries in the region operating the Rafale and other Dassault aircraft.
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Why Rafale and France?
The proposed deal comes at a time when both the United States of America and Russia have offered their fifth-generation fighters (including the F-35 and the Su-57) to the Indian Air Force. The IAF has been grappling with a depletion of fighter aircraft squadrons in recent years — even as several neighbouring countries pose security challenges. Its indigenous projects have also faced delay due to issues with engines as well as integration of foreign-made equipment with the LCA Mark 1A aircraft.
The Indian Air Force has been pushing for the case to buy 114 Rafale fighter jets for a long time after it was selected in a multi-vendor tender. Sources told ANI that Rafale has been found to be the best suited to meet Indian Air Force requirements for fighter aircraft, as the serviceability is around 90%. This is much higher than any other aircraft in the world, including the American F-35. |
