India Clears Procurement of 114 Rafale Fighter Jets for ₹3.25 Lakh Crore
The Defence Acquisition Council has approved the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation to address shortages in India's air force squadrons. India currently operates 29 squadrons against an authorised 42, exacerbated by MiG-21 retirements and regional threats from Pakistan and China. The deal includes 18 flyaway aircraft and 96 to be manufactured in India with initial 30% indigenous content rising to 60%. Tata Advanced Systems will produce fuselage sections in Hyderabad starting FY2028. France denied source code access for radar and electronic warfare systems. This fits India's diversification strategy across suppliers like France, Russia, Israel, and the US. India's defence budget for 2026-27 allocates ₹7.85 lakh crore, with 75% capital outlay for domestic procurement.[1]
Try the question
Which council approved the procurement of 114 Rafale jets?
Answer: (b) Defence Acquisition Council
The correct answer is (b) Defence Acquisition Council.