‘Rafale Was The Hero Of Operation Sindoor’: IAF Vice Chief Ahead Of Mega 114-Jet Deal

Picture this: May 2025, tensions boiling after that brutal Pahalgam attack, and India's Rafale fighter jets roar into action for the first time in real combat during Operation Sindoor. These French beasts stayed safely over Indian skies but sent SCALP cruise missiles screaming 500 kilometers into Pakistan, leveling Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba dens in Bahawalpur and Muridke. Closer in, they dropped AASM HAMMER bombs like thunderbolts, turning terror bunkers to dust in under half an hour.Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, the IAF's Vice Chief of Air Staff, laid it out plain during a recent briefing. "Rafale was definitely the hero during Operation Sindoor," he said, crediting its SPECTRA electronic warfare gear for fooling Pakistani radars and its stealthy

profile for ghosting through LoC mountains. Meteor missiles hung ready for any Pakistan Air Force challengers, but none dared show. The whole op wrapped in 23 minutes flat—no losses, pure dominance.

#WATCH | Delhi | Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor says, "Rafale was definitely the hero during Operation Sindoor. Indian Air Force is looking forward to inducting more MRFA (Multi Role Fighter Aircraft), which is going to be Rafale or any other, which are under… pic.twitter.com/nRlGGMCdyA

— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2026

Fast-forward to now, and the Indian Air Force stares down a squadron crunch: just 30 active against a needed 42, as Pakistan cozies up to China and Bangladesh. Enter the big play—a Rs 3.25 lakh crore shopping list for 114 Rafales that got the green light from the Defence Procurement Board last month. Sources close to the Defence Ministry told Times Now it's topping the agenda for next week's high-level meet, perfectly timed before French President Emmanuel Macron lands in Delhi on February 18 for the AI summit.

Op Sindoor Proves Rafale's Battlefield Edge

What made Rafale shine? Start with the deep strikes—SCALP missiles gutted command posts without a single jet crossing the border, a masterstroke of standoff power. Then the tactical hammer: pilots hugged terrain, evading eyes, while HAMMER munitions picked off camps like surgeons. SPECTRA jammed SAAB AWACS and HQ-9s, leaving PAF scrambling in the dark.

Kapoor's take rings true from pilot chatter post-mission: these 4.5-gen marvels owned the skies, deterring intercepts with Meteor's long arm. Pakistan spun tales of shootdowns, but sats showed empty claims. "We're looking forward to inducting more MRFA," Kapoor added—Rafale tops the list, though deliberations continue. It's not just hardware; it's the edge in a nasty neighborhood.The deal breaks down smart: 88 single-seaters, 26 trainers, 80% built here with Dassault and Indian firms like Reliance or Tata. That balloons IAF Rafales to 150, Navy grabs 26 carrier variants—total French firepower overhaul. With Macron inbound, expect SCALP top-ups too, after Sindoor burned through stocks.

Mega Deal Fuels IAF's Two-Front Prep

Why rush? Collusion's the word—Pakistan-China drills, Bangladesh border jitters, all hiking threat levels. Squadrons thin out fast without fresh blood like Rafale's multi-role punch: air superiority, ground pounding, EW wizardry. Macron's visit isn't chit-chat; it's sealing a lifeline for years ahead.Defence insiders whisper the ministry sees this as non-negotiable: "Critical for operational needs right now," one said. Local production slashes costs, builds skills—win-win. IAF brass knows: Rafale didn't just win Sindoor; it redefined retaliation without risking a single wing.As February heats up, eyes lock on that procurement huddle. Will it fly? Momentum says yes, blending France's tech with India's grit. For pilots who danced through Pakistani nets, more Rafales mean breathing room—and payback ready.