The Indian Air Force is struggling with a shortage of advanced 4.5 generation fourth generation fighter jets. According to the agency, sources said that the Air Force is preparing to float an open tender to buy 114 multi-role fighter jets soon.
The Air Force believes that it needs advanced 4.5 generation fighter jets to meet the challenges on the Northern and Western fronts. Earlier in the year 2016, the government bought 36 Rafale aircraft.
According to sources, a non-controversial model will be adopted for the procurement of these advanced jets, as these fighter jets will be manufactured in India.
The government will go for a multi-vendor tender to procure these jets under the Make in India process, as the government believes it will not import any major weapon systems.
The Indian Air Force has around 30 squadrons of fighter jets. These include Jaguar, Mirage-2000 and MiG-29. Many of these jets are going to be retired in the next 5-7 years. The MiG-21 will also be phased out from the squadron in the next few months.
Will the government buy more Rafale fighter jets? According to the agency, official sources have said that several countries have placed orders for the Rafale to the French firm that makes the Rafale. It will take the company 10 years to fulfill those orders.
This deal was done for 59 thousand crore rupees In 2016, India signed an agreement to buy 36 Rafale fighter planes from France for 7.87 billion Euros, i.e. about 59 thousand crore rupees. The Rafale was manufactured by the French company Dassault Aviation. It also manufactures the Mirage jet.
After a long wait, India got its first Rafale in the year 2019. On October 9, 2019, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh received the first Rafale aircraft from the Dyso company while performing Shastra Puja.
In the first batch of Rafale aircraft, considered a game changer for the country's security, five aircraft landed at Ambala Air Force Station in July 2020.
The Rafale is one of the world's most advanced fighter jets, capable of carrying several lethal weapons and missiles. It is stationed at the strategically important Ambala Air Force Station for the Indian Army, which is close to both Pakistan and China in terms of distance.
India and France sign deal to buy 26 Rafale Marine Jets India and France have been in talks for several months regarding the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine Jets. The deal is worth approximately Rs. 50 thousand crores (estimated). India wants to keep the base price of the Rafale-M deal for the Navy the same as it did when it bought 36 aircraft for the Air Force in 2016.
The first round of talks on a deal to buy 26 Rafale-M fighter jets began in August. The French government and Dassault company officials then held discussions with the Defense Ministry's Contract Negotiation Committee. If Rs. If this deal of 50 thousand crores is finalized, France will also provide weapons, simulators, training for crew and logistics support along with Rafale-M jets.
Information about this deal first came to light during PM Narendra Modi's visit to France last year. After this, the Ministry of Defense issued a letter of request, which was accepted by France in December 2023.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
