Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) clears proposal to buy 114 Rafale jets from France with 90 to be manufactured in India

Key facts

• The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets from France under an inter-governmental deal for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Of the 114 jets, 90 will be manufactured in India with close to 50 per cent indigenous content.
• The DAC also cleared the procurement of six additional P-8I maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft from the United States for the Indian Navy.
• Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) was accorded for multiple proposals worth an estimated Rs 3.60 lakh crore by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
• The Indian Air Force currently operates 36 Rafales, and the Indian Navy will induct 26 Rafale M aircraft for carrier operations.
• The P-8I aircraft will be procured in a fly-away condition with no offsets, technology transfer, or other obligations.
• AoNs were also granted for Combat Missiles, Air-Ship Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (AS-HAPS), 4 MW Marine Gas Turbine based Electric Power Generator, Anti-Tank Mines (Vibhav), and overhaul of Vehicle Platforms of Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs), T-72 Tanks and Infantry Combat Vehicles (BMP-II).
• The DAC also accorded AoN for procurement of Electro-Optical/Infra-Red system for Dornier aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).