Govt aims sealing 114 Rafale jet by FY-end; French co agrees Indian weapon integration
The Indian government plans to finalize a contract for 114 Rafale fighter jets by the end of the current financial year. The deal emphasizes domestic assembly and the integration of indigenous weapon systems to bolster the Indian Air Force's combat capabilities.
Why it matters
This procurement is critical for addressing the Indian Air Force's depleted squadron strength and advancing the 'Make in India' initiative in the defense sector.
NEW DELHI: In good news for the Indian Air Force, defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Thursday that the govt is planning to conclude the contract for 114 Rafale jets by the end of this financial year and the govt is looking for a higher level of integration of Indian armaments in such 4-5-generation fighter jets.Confirming that bids submitted under the request for proposal (RFP) stage are undergoing formal assessment, the defence secretary said, “We should be able to reach some conclusion in that procurement cycle before the end of this year.”“They had agreed to integrate Indian weapons even in the already-contracted Rafale Marines that we had bought.
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