Overview
- India’s Defence Acquisition Council granted Acceptance of Necessity on February 12 for the MRFA programme, with the Rafale buy reported at roughly Rs 3.25–3.6 lakh crore.
- Plans call for 18 jets in fly-away condition and the rest to be manufactured or assembled in India with significant technology transfer and an indigenous content target of about 50–60 percent, according to reports.
- The acquisition is intended to help rebuild the Indian Air Force’s fighter strength, with current squadrons reported near 29 against a sanctioned level of about 42.
- The timing precedes French President Emmanuel Macron’s February 17–19 visit to India, setting up the programme for high-level bilateral discussions.
- The council also cleared additional P-8I maritime aircraft, SCALP standoff missiles and a high-altitude pseudo-satellite, bringing total approvals to about Rs 3.6 lakh crore.