Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The Union defence minister Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Thursday cleared the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets, combat missiles and Air-Ship Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (AS-HAPS), and other procurements at an estimated cost of Rs 3.6 lakh crore.The council, granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the project, which with acquisition of the Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) will strengthen the Indian Air Force’s ability to secure air superiority across the full spectrum of conflict and substantially enhance its deterrence posture through long-range offensive strike capability. Most of the aircraft are expected to be produced in India, providing a boost to domestic manufacturing.
The induction of advanced combat missiles will improve stand-off ground attack capabilities, enabling deep precision strikes with high levels of accuracy. Meanwhile, the AS-HAPS will be deployed for sustained intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, including electronic intelligence gathering, secure communications, and remote sensing for military applications.The acquisition, which was cleared by the Defence Procurement Board last month, will now move to the apex committee for the next round of approvals. This will be followed by formal technical and commercial negotiations. The deal for MRFA is expected to be finalised during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India.The IAF is currently operating about 30 fighter squadrons, well below its sanctioned strength of 42, even as threat perceptions from Pakistan and China continue to rise. Defence analysts have also flagged increasing strategic coordination between Pakistan and China, and between Pakistan and Bangladesh, as factors intensifying regional security concerns.Recent combat experience, including Operation Sindoor, has underlined the importance of the 4.5-generation Rafale in offensive roles, given its arsenal of advanced weapons such as Meteor and SCALP missiles and laser-guided bombs.The Rafale induction is expected to meet the IAF’s requirement for a 4.5-generation-plus multirole fighter for the foreseeable future, especially as India’s fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) remains some years away and HAL’s Tejas Mk-1A programme has been slowed by delays in engine supplies from US-based GE.For the Indian Army, AoN was granted for the procurement of Vibhav anti-tank mines and the overhaul of vehicle platforms for Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs), T-72 tanks, and BMP-II Infantry Combat Vehicles. The Vibhav mines are intended to be deployed as part of an anti-tank obstacle system to slow or restrict the movement of enemy mechanised formations. The overhaul of the ARVs, T-72s and BMP-IIs is aimed at extending the operational life of these platforms, thereby maintaining equipment readiness and improving overall combat effectiveness.For the Indian Navy, AoN was approved for the acquisition of a 4 MW Marine Gas Turbine-based Electric Power Generator and additional P-8I Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft. The induction of the 4 MW generator under the Make-I category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 is expected to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and promote self-reliance in meeting the Navy’s power generation needs. The procurement of P-8I aircraft will enhance the Navy’s long-range anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance and maritime strike capabilities.For the Indian Coast Guard, AoN was accorded for the procurement of Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR) systems for Dornier aircraft, which will strengthen its maritime surveillance operations.
