Another 114 Rafale for IAF get approval, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the purchase of 114 Rafale multirole fighter aircraft from France.
• 90 Rafale aircraft will be manufactured in India with approximately 50% indigenous content.
• DAC also cleared procurement of six additional Boeing P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft from the US for the Indian Navy.
• The total estimated cost for the approved proposals is Rs 3.60 lakh crore.
• The DAC approved procurement of combat missiles, including SCALP missiles, and Air-Ship Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (AS-HAPS) platforms.

Detailed Insights:

• The induction of 114 Rafale aircraft aims to address the critical capability gap in the Indian Air Force (IAF), which currently has 29 squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42.
• The SCALP (Storm Shadow) missile, integrated with the Rafale fighter aircraft, is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile with stealth features and a range of 450 km.
• The procurement of additional Rafale aircraft will reduce logistical and training costs, as the IAF already operates 36 Rafale aircraft, and the Indian Navy will induct 26 Rafale-M.
• The Boeing P-8I aircraft will enhance the Indian Navy's capabilities in anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
• Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) has also been granted for the procurement of Anti-Tank Mines (Vibhav), overhaul of vehicle platforms for the Indian Army, and Electro-Optical/Infra-Red system for Indian Coast Guard's Dornier aircraft.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Defence Acquisition Council (DAC): The body responsible for making decisions on defense equipment purchases and military modernization.
• Acceptance of Necessity (AoN): The first step in the defense procurement process, indicating the acceptance of the need for a particular acquisition.
• Indigenous Content: The percentage of components or materials used in manufacturing a product that are sourced from within the country.