North India Statesman
[ad_1]
New Delhi. The central government has taken a big step towards making the Indian Air Force (IAF) the world’s most lethal air power. The Defense Acquisition Committee (DAC) of the Defense Ministry has given the green signal to the purchase of 114 new Rafale fighter aircraft from France. This defense deal, costing approximately ₹ 36 lakh crore, is considered to be India’s biggest deal so far from a strategic point of view.
This approval has come at a time when French President Emmanuel Macron is on a visit to India from 15 to 17 February. Now this file will be sent to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for final approval.
Key terms of the deal: Emphasis on ‘Make in India’
The most special thing about this mega deal is that India has given priority to its domestic manufacturing capacity:
Ready aircraft (Fly-away condition): On the lines of the earlier 36 Rafale deal, the initial 18 aircraft out of 114 will come in a ready state directly from France.
Manufacturing in India: The remaining aircraft will be manufactured in India under the ‘Transfer of Technology’ agreement. This will not only provide aircraft to the Air Force, but will also strengthen the country’s defense industry.
Budget Burden: According to experts, the delivery of these aircraft will take place over 5 to 7 years, which means the government will have to pay around ₹50,000 crore annually, which is balanced in terms of budget management.
There will be 150 Rafales in the Air Force fleet.
After completion of this agreement, the total number of Rafale aircraft with the Indian Air Force will become 150 (36 old + 114 new). At present the Air Force has only 30 squadrons against the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons. In view of the two-front war threat from China and Pakistan, air experts believe that India will have to increase the number of its squadrons to 56 by the next decade.
Why is Rafale a ‘game changer’?
During the recent conflict between India and Pakistan (Operation Sindoor etc.), the capabilities of Rafale have impressed the world. Some of its key features make it unique:
State-of-the-Art Weapons: It is equipped with long-range missiles like Meteor and SCALP and laser guided bombs.
5th Generation Capacity: Although Rafale is a 4.5 generation aircraft, its lethal sensors and weapons make it India’s upcoming 5th generation aircraft. AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) remain a powerful alternative until .
intense competition: In the tender issued in 2019, Rafale proved its superiority by defeating giants like America’s Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Eurofighter Typhoon.
strategic importance
According to defense experts, this Rafale fleet will not only protect the borders, but will also increase India’s ability to carry out precise attacks by penetrating into enemy territory manifold. This deal is another great example of the unbreakable strategic partnership between India and France.
