The Indian Air Force currently has around 30 combat aircraft squadrons.
The Indian Air Force is grappling with the shortage of advanced 4.5-generation fourth-generation fighter jets. According to the agency, sources said the Air Force would soon prepare to launch an open tender for the purchase of 114 multi-role combat aircraft.
The Air Force believes it needs advanced 4.5 generation fighter jets to meet challenges on the northern and western fronts. Earlier in 2016, the government had purchased 36 Rafale jets.
According to sources, a non-controversial model will be adopted for procurement of these cutting-edge aircraft as these fighter jets will be manufactured only in India.
The government will float a multi-vendor tender to procure these aircraft under the Make in India process as the government believes that it will not import any major weapons systems.
There are around 30 combat aircraft squadrons in the Indian Air Force. These include Jaguar, Mirage-2000 and MiG-29. Many of these planes will be retired in the next 5 to 7 years. The MiG-21s are also to be retired from the squadron in the coming months.
Will the government buy more Rafale fighter jets? According to the agency, official sources indicated that many countries had placed Rafale orders with the French company that manufactures the Rafale. It will take the company 10 years to fulfill these orders.
The deal was done for 59,000 crores. In 2016, India had signed a deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France for 7.87 billion euros, or around Rs 59,000 crore. The Rafale was manufactured by the French company Dassault Aviation. It also manufactures Mirage jets.
After a long wait, India got the first Rafale in 2019. On October 9, 2019, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh received the first Rafale aircraft from Daiso company at the same time as he performed Shastra Puja.
In the first batch of Rafale jets, considered a turning point for the country’s security, five planes landed at the Ambala airbase in July 2020.
The Rafale is one of the most modern combat aircraft in the world, capable of carrying numerous deadly weapons and missiles. He was deployed at the Ambala air base, strategically important for the Indian Army, close to Pakistan and China in terms of distance.
Agreement between India and France for the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine Jets: Discussions have been underway between India and France for the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine Jets for several months. This transaction is worth around Rs 50,000 crores (estimated). India wants to keep the base price of the Rafale-M deal for the Navy at the same price it kept when purchasing 36 aircraft for the Air Force in 2016.
The first round of discussions on the purchase of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets began in August. Next, the French government and Dassault officials spoke with the Defense Ministry’s contract negotiation committee. If this deal worth Rs 50,000 crore is finalized, France will also provide weapons, simulators, crew training and logistical support along with the Rafale-M jet.
Information about the deal was first revealed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France last year. The Ministry of Defense then issued a letter of request, which was accepted by France in December 2023. ..