By A Correspondent
New Delhi: The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has raised concerns over the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) “Statement of Case” (SOC) for the acquisition of 114 multi-role fighter aircraft, describing it as “incomplete.”
Government officials said the ministry has called for further discussions with French manufacturer Dassault Aviation, the maker of the Rafale jet, which remains one of the leading contenders for the massive deal.
The MoD’s primary focus, officials revealed, is to ensure the next fighter procurement aligns with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance) policy.
Two key demands have emerged: first, that the bulk of the 114 aircraft must be manufactured in India, with only a limited number arriving in flyaway condition; and second, that indigenous content in the aircraft must be significantly higher, potentially up to 75% or more, to boost local defence manufacturing.
Dassault has already supplied 36 Rafale jets for the IAF (2016) and another 26 Rafale-M for the navy (2025) under a previous government-to-government agreements. But this new contract will not be a repeat order.
Instead, it will be a separate commercial arrangement, requiring the French company to establish local production facilities, likely in partnership with an Indian firm.
Dassault has also proposed setting up a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) centre in Hyderabad, apart from the one in Noida, they said.
The 114-fighter requirement comes at a critical time for the IAF, whose squadron strength has dropped to around 30, well below the sanctioned 42.5 squadrons needed to maintain combat readiness against arch rivals China and Pakistan.
While Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is expected to deliver 180 Tejas Mk1A fighters over the next seven to eight years, the new acquisition remains vital to replace aging fleets like the Jaguar and MiG-29.
The final decision on Dassault’s bid will depend on how the French manufacturer meets India’s stringent localisation and cost expectations.
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