Delhi, June 02: Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh is on a four-day visit to France. His visit comes at a time when India is in the process of buying 114 new Rafale fighter jets. This is one of the biggest fighter jet procurement projects in the history of the Indian Air Force.
According to sources in the Defence Ministry, India has sent a formal proposal to France for the purchase of Rafale jets. France will now respond with details on price, production capacity and logistics support. A response is expected in the next two to three months. After that, formal talks between the two countries will begin. Officials said that the deal could be finalised by next year.
Why is the Air Force Chief’s visit important
The Air Force Chief’s visit is not being seen as just a formality. He is expected to meet officials from leading French defence companies. These include Dassault Aviation, which makes the Rafale, and MBDA, which makes advanced missiles like Meteor and SCALP. The discussions are believed to go beyond the purchase of aircraft. It is being analysed that the talks may also include manufacturing in India, technical cooperation and integration of Indian weapons.
PM Modi may visit France
According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi may visit France in mid-June. If the visit takes place, the Rafale deal may be one of the key issues.
The deal is being pursued on a government-to-government basis. Therefore, the role of the top leadership of both the countries is considered crucial.
Why does India need new fighter jets?
The Indian Air Force has an approved strength of 42 squadrons. But currently it has only 29 squadrons. The shortage has increased after the phasing out of older aircraft like the MiG-21. That is why 114 new multi-role fighter jets have been planned. Rafale is considered a strong contender in this competition. The Air Force already operates 36 Rafale jets.
More aircraft could be built in India
The most notable aspect of this proposed deal is the manufacturing of these aircraft in India. According to sources, out of the 114 jets, 94 aircraft could be manufactured in India. The remaining aircraft would come directly from France. For this, Dassault Aviation could partner with an Indian company. The Defence Ministry wants about 50% localization in this project. This means that several Indian systems and weapons could be integrated into the aircraft. This is being seen as a major step towards the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
Rafale Fleet:
The Indian Air Force currently has 36 Rafale jets. In addition, a deal for 26 Rafale-M jets for the Navy has already been signed. If the deal for 114 new jets goes through, India will have a total of 176 Rafale aircraft. This will significantly increase India’s air power. This will help the Air Force increase its capabilities on both the China and Pakistan fronts.