Overview
- Defence Procurement Board approval advances the Indian Air Force plan for 114 Rafale multi‑role fighters to the Defence Acquisition Council, followed by Cabinet Committee on Security review.
- Government and IAF demands include integration of Indian weapons across all aircraft plus secure data links for networking with Indian radars and sensors, with sources also flagging source‑code access as non‑negotiable.
- Talks with France are active, with officials aiming to align decisions with a proposed Modi–Macron meeting in February, though pricing and the final contract still require formal clearances.
- The package is estimated at about ₹3.25 lakh crore (roughly $36 billion), with most jets to be produced in India and a smaller batch delivered in fly‑away condition, and reported localisation projections in the 30–60% range.
- The push seeks to arrest the IAF’s squadron shortfall of roughly 29–30 versus an authorised 42.5, building on 36 Rafales already in service and complementing separate indigenous fighter programmes.