India Clears Biggest Defence Deal Since Independence: 114 Rafales, Scalp Missiles Worth Rs 3.25 Lakh Crore

It’s the biggest defence deal since independence: over 30 billion Euros (Rs 3.25 lakh crore approx.) for 114 Rafale fighter jets. And along with it, a separate deal for Scalp air-to-air missiles that the Rafales would be armed with. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Thursday cleared the deal. As per the deal, 90 of the 114 aircraft will be manufactured in India, with around 50 percent indigenous content. France will also allow integration of Indian weapons on the Rafale jets.Both the deals, along with other proposals, were placed before the DAC headed by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh. Other members of the DAC include the Chief of Defence Staff, the three armed forces chiefs, the Defence Secretary and the head of the Defence Research and Development

Organisation (DRDO).The Rafale deal (reported by this website on January 20 this year) will be a 30 billion Euro one, but keeping aatmanirbhar Bharat or self reliance in mind, the planes will have a lot of indigenous content. Also Read - ‘Rafale Was The Hero Of Operation Sindoor’: IAF Vice Chief Ahead Of Mega 114-Jet Deal

P8I deal

The Indian Navy is keen on additional P8I maritime surveillance aircraft— it already has them and six more are in the anvil. This was not going forward during the tough negotiations with the United States of America on free trade, but was being used as “leverage.” Boeing was asking for too much, but now that it will be cleared by the DAC, negotiations can begin seriously. Besides, a very important decision on gas turbine engines for naval ships is on the anvil. While it is not a much talked about project, it is important.At this point, the Air Force desperately needs new fighters. Very few have come in recent years, the only substantial numbers having been the 36 Rafale from France. The 114, or about 6 squadrons, are needed as fighter aircraft with the IAF among the 30 squadrons remaining are on the verge of retirement. Then, a fighter will be developed indigenously but that is over a decade away. But before that, to ensure India has a strong deterrent, the 114 are necessary, the IAF has said.