The Indian government has reportedly cleared a massive ₹3.25 lakh crore deal for 114 Rafale fighter jets, significantly boosting the Indian Air Force’s combat strength. The approval marks a major step toward addressing the IAF’s declining squadron numbers while enhancing India’s air superiority capabilities amid evolving regional security challenges.
Under the proposed agreement, only a small batch of the jets is expected to be delivered in fly-away condition, while nearly 80% of the aircraft will be manufactured in India, aligning with the government’s ambitious ‘Make in India’ initiative. Indigenous content in the project could reach up to 60%, providing a substantial boost to India’s domestic aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem. The deal is seen not only as a strategic military upgrade but also as a transformative move for technology transfer, job creation, and strengthening India’s long-term defence self-reliance.
