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India to Build Rafale Jets Locally with 40-50% Indigenous Content

The Defence Acquisition Council has approved a proposal to procure 114 Rafale Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft for the Indian Air Force. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh stated this marks the first time Rafale jets will be manufactured outside France, with 40-50% localisation under the 'Make in India' initiative. The program is a direct government-to-government agreement ensuring transparency and will allow for the integration of Indian weapons systems. The first Rafale Marine variants are expected to arrive in 2028, with Air Force versions following approximately three and a half years later.

Key Points: India to Manufacture Rafale Jets Locally for First Time

  • First Rafale production outside France
  • 40-50% localisation under Make in India
  • Government-to-government deal with full transparency
  • Integration of Indian weapons and systems
2 min read

"First time Rafale will be built outside France with major localisation": Defence Secretary after DAC's nod to buy 114 jets

Defence Secretary announces Rafale fighter jets will be built in India with 40-50% localisation under a government-to-government deal.

"For the first time, Rafale aircraft will be manufactured outside France with significant levels of localisation. - Rajesh Kumar Singh"

New Delhi, February 13

Following the Defence Acquisition Council's nod to the proposal to buy 114 Rafale Fighter Jets, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Friday emphasised that Rafale aircraft will be manufactured outside France for the first time, with 40 to 50 per cent localisation under the 'Make in India' programme.

Speaking to ANI, Singh said the programme is being implemented through a government-to-government agreement with no intermediaries and full transparency. He added that it will allow the integration of Indian weapons and systems on the aircraft, which he described as a key feature of the project.

"For the first time, Rafale aircraft will be manufactured outside France with significant levels of localisation. We are seeking a minimum of 40 to 50 per cent... The first time 'Make in India,' Rafael outside France backed up by a government-to-government agreement, no intermediaries, full transparency in the project itself, G2G significant levels of localisation, and full authority to integrate Indian weapons and Indian systems are the highlights of this program," Rajesh Kumar Singh said.

"It also enables us to induct fighter aircraft relatively quickly because the first of the Rafale Marines will start coming in '28, and after that, over a period of time, you will see that about three and a half years from now, the first of these Air Force Rafales will also start coming," Singh added.

This comes after the Defence Acquisition Council, under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to various service proposals at an estimated value of about Rs 3.60 lakh crore.

For the Indian Air Force (IAF), AoN was approved for the procurement of Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) {Rafale}, Combat Missiles, and Air-Ships Based High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (AS-HAPS).

According to the Ministry of Defence, the procurement of MRFA will enhance the IAF's capability to undertake air-dominance roles across the spectrum of conflict and significantly boost its deterrence with long-range offensive strikes.

The majority of the MRFA to be procured will be manufactured in India. The Combat Missiles will enhance the stand-off ground-attack capability with deep-strike power and very high accuracy. The AS-HAPS will be utilised for persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Electronic Intelligence, telecommunications, and remote sensing for military purposes.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
While the strategic intent is good, I hope the execution is flawless. The timeline mentions first deliveries in 2028. We've seen delays in other defence projects. The key will be maintaining quality standards while achieving the promised localisation. Fingers crossed.
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Vikram M
Finally! This is a game-changer for our aerospace industry. Integrating Indian weapons like Astra missiles and other indigenous systems will make the Rafale uniquely suited for our needs. This deal seems much better structured than the previous one. Jai Hind!
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Priya S
Great news for self-reliance. But Rs 3.6 lakh crore is an enormous amount of taxpayer money. I truly hope there is "full transparency" as claimed, with no cost overruns. The focus should be on creating skilled jobs and a sustainable ecosystem, not just assembling parts.
R
Rohit P
A strong IAF is non-negotiable given our security challenges. The Rafale is a proven platform. Manufacturing it here, with local content, will boost our deterrence significantly. Hope the HAL and private sector partnerships deliver on time. Our skies need to be secure.
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Michael C
Interesting development from a global defence perspective. France allowing production outside its borders for the first time shows deep strategic trust. The 'Make in India' model, if successful here, could become a template for other nations looking to build domestic defence capacity.

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