Indian Air Force (IAF) Vice-Chief Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor on Monday hailed the Rafale fighter jet as the “hero of Operation Sindoor,” underscoring the service’s push to expand its fleet of advanced combat aircraft as New Delhi nears a decision on a major multi-role fighter acquisition. The government is considering a proposal to procure 114 multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA) — with the Rafale widely seen as the frontrunner — in a deal estimated at about Rs 3.25 lakh crore.
“Rafale is definitely the buzzword,” India Today quoted Air Marshal Kapoor as saying, adding that the aircraft was the “hero of Operation Sindoor — among many other heroes.”
India Today TV, citing sources, reported earlier this week that the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is expected to consider granting Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the programme ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit later this month. The proposal was cleared last month by the Defence Procurement Board, led by the Defence Secretary, marking a key procedural step toward formal negotiations.
Under the plan outlined in sources, India would buy 114 Rafale jets with 18 delivered in fly-away condition and the remainder manufactured domestically. Nearly 80% of the fleet is expected to be produced in India, with indigenous content potentially reaching 60% under the Make in India initiative. The configuration under consideration includes 88 single-seat and 26 twin-seat aircraft. French manufacturer Dassault Aviation is expected to partner with Indian private firms for local production and assembly.
Air Marshal Kapoor reiterated the IAF’s intent to strengthen its combat fleet but did not name a platform, saying: “We are looking forward to inducting more MRFA aircraft… I cannot say which type, as it is under deliberations.” The procurement push responds to a growing capability gap: the IAF currently operates around 29 fighter squadrons, well short of its sanctioned strength of 42, even as security challenges persist along both the western and northern borders.
If approved, the proposed deal would rank among the largest fighter-jet procurements in India’s history and is expected to boost the country’s domestic aerospace manufacturing capacity through technology transfer and local industry collaboration.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/iaf-vice-chief-hails-rafale-as-hero-of-operation-sindoor-signals-major-fleet-expansion-13978757.html
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Publish Date: 2026-02-11 20:43:00
