Delhi: The strength of the Indian Air Force is going to increase. And for this the Modi government has approved the purchase of new Rafale jets from France. The whole world saw the power of fighter jet Rafale during Operation Sindoor last year and how India maintained air dominance over Pakistan. And in the blink of an eye, Pakistan attacked all the airbases including Noor Khan. The purchase of new Rafale jets has been approved in a meeting chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
India will buy 114 new Rafale
The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) has given Acceptance of Necessity for major high-value defense purchases. Under the chairmanship of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, an estimated price of about Rs 3.60 lakh crore was approved for different proposals of the armed forces. A deal worth about Rs 3.25 lakh crore has been approved for the Rafale deal with France. Of this, Rs 2.5 lakh crore is for 114 Rafale fighter aircraft and the remaining amount is for weapons, spares and support packages.
How will the strength of the Air Force increase?
Most of the MRFA Rafale aircraft to be purchased will be manufactured in India. Combat missiles are to strengthen stand-off ground attack capability with deep strike power and extreme accuracy. At the same time, AS-HAPS will be used for continuous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic intelligence, telecommunications and remote sensing for military purposes.
Purchase of Vibhag, ARVs, T-72 tanks for Army
Approval was given for procurement of ‘Vibhav’ anti-tank mines and overhaul of vehicle platforms of ARVs, T-72 tanks and Infantry Combat Vehicles i.e. BMP-II for the Indian Army. ‘Vibhav’ mines will be laid as Anti-Tank Obstacle System to slow down the progress of enemy mechanized forces. At the same time, overhaul of ARVs, T-72 tanks and BMP-II will increase the service life of the equipment.
P8I aircraft will be purchased for Indian Navy
4 MW Marine Gas Turbine Based Electric Power Generator and Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft P8I have been approved for the Indian Navy. Indigenous procurement of electric power generators will reduce our dependence on foreign manufacturers and ensure self-reliance in the Navy’s power generation needs. At the same time, the purchase of P8I aircraft will increase the Navy’s long-range anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance and maritime strike capabilities.
How dangerous is Rafale jet?
India had purchased 36 Rafale aircraft from France, the delivery of which was completed in December 2024. These fighter aircraft are in 2 squadrons of IAF – ‘Golden Arrows’ at Ambala and ‘Falcons’ at Hashimara. Rafale has a lethal weapon system. It is equipped with Meteor missile which is one of the world’s most advanced air-to-air missiles. Its range is more than 100 kilometers.
Enemies tremble with Rafael’s SCALP and HAMMER
Rafale also has SCALP missile, which is a type of air-to-ground cruise missile, which can target enemy bunkers and bases located 300-500 kilometers away. Rafale is also equipped with Hammer missile. It is a short-range missile specially designed to destroy strong structures.
What is the specialty of Rafale’s radar?
The Rafale fighter jet has RBE2 AESA radar which is capable of tracking 40 targets simultaneously. It also has the SPECTRA system, a powerful electronic security system that helps the jet avoid enemy radar and jamming threats. It also has a helmet mounted display. With its help the pilot is able to view the data from his helmet.
Deal for 26 Rafale-Marine jets has already been done
Earlier, India had also signed a deal with France for 26 Rafale-Marine jets in April 2025. This deal was worth Rs 63 thousand crores. These Rafale jets have the capability to fly from aircraft carriers and have been designed for Navy missions. The deal includes training, weapons, simulators and long-term support. Rafale-M will be deployed on INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
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