Rafale deal: Defence Ministry on Thursday approved plans to buy 26 Rafale fighter aircraft and three Scorpene class conventional submarines for the Indian Navy from France. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the proposals in a meeting which was attended by Defence Minister Rajanth Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan and the three services chiefs and other senior officials.
As per the proposals, the Indian Navy will get 22 single-seated Rafale Marine aircraft along with four trainer aircraft. The Navy has been pressing for acquiring these fighter aircraft and submarines urgently as the force has been facing shortages in view of the security challenges around the country. The aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and Vikrant have been operating the MiG-29s and need the Rafales for operations on both carriers.
India is likely to seek price concessions in the deal
Meanwhile, the three Scorpene class submarines would be acquired under the repeated clause by the Navy as part of Project 75 and would be built at the Mazagon Dockyards Limited in Mumbai. According to sources, India is likely to seek price concessions in the deal and would be insisting on having more 'Make-in-India' content in the plan.
It should be mentioned here that the deals, which have been accorded Acceptance of Necessity by DAC, are likely to be announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France. PM Modi embarked on a two-day visit to France on Thursday morning.
In addition, the DAC approved the proposal to lay down guidelines for achieving the desired indigenous content in all categories of capital acquisition cases. It will help in achieving ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in critical manufacturing technologies and life-cycle sustenance of defence platforms/equipment through indigenous manufacturing.
The DAC also granted the AoN for procurement of three additional Scorpene submarines under Buy (Indian) category which will be constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
The procurement of additional submarines, with higher indigenous content, will not only help in maintaining required force level and operational readiness of the Indian Navy, but also create significant employment opportunities in the domestic sector. It will also help the MDL in further enhancing its capability and expertise in submarine construction.
With ANI inputs
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