New Delhi [India], January 15 (HBTV): In the proposed deal to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force, around 80 per cent of the aircraft are planned to be manufactured in India, significantly boosting domestic defence production.
The project is expected to involve the transfer of some manufacturing facilities from France to India. The Indian side is also in discussions with French officials to maximise local content in the deal, including plans to establish a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility within the country to enhance the serviceability of the aircraft, government sources said.
Sources added that the two sides will further negotiate the overall cost of the project. The French price offer has reportedly factored in an annual inflation rate of around four per cent.
With a large number of Rafale components and systems likely to be produced in India, there is also a possibility of Dassault Aviation using an Indian entity for export orders. Indian facilities could also be positioned as a regional MRO hub for countries operating Rafale and other Dassault aircraft, the sources said.
According to sources, the Rafale has been assessed as the most suitable aircraft to meet the Indian Air Force’s requirements, with serviceability levels of around 90 per cent, significantly higher than most other fighter aircraft globally, including the American F-35.
The Indian Air Force has been advocating the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets for several years, following its selection in a multi-vendor tender. The force is currently facing a decline in the number of operational fighter squadrons, while indigenous programmes have seen delays due to issues related to engine development and the integration of foreign-made equipment with the LCA Mark 1A.
With active security challenges on its western and northern fronts involving Pakistan and China, and emerging concerns in the eastern region, the number of fighter squadrons required by the Indian Air Force is projected to exceed the long-accepted benchmark of 42 squadrons.
(ANI)