India's Defence Acquisition Council Greenlights Major Military Procurement
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), India's apex decision-making body for defence procurement, has granted crucial approvals for significant military acquisitions during its meeting on Thursday. Chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the council cleared the procurement of Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) Rafale fighter jets, advanced combat missiles, and Air-Ship Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (AS-HAPS) systems.
Strengthening Air Superiority and Deterrence Capabilities
The Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) granted by the DAC marks a pivotal step in enhancing India's defence posture. The acquisition of MRFA Rafale aircraft is specifically designed to strengthen the Indian Air Force's ability to secure air superiority across the full spectrum of potential conflicts. This procurement will substantially enhance India's deterrence posture through significantly improved long-range offensive strike capabilities.
Most of these advanced fighter aircraft are expected to be manufactured within India, providing a substantial boost to domestic defence manufacturing and supporting the government's 'Make in India' initiative in the defence sector. This domestic production approach will create employment opportunities and develop indigenous technical expertise in advanced aerospace technology.
Advanced Missile Systems and Surveillance Capabilities
The council also approved the induction of advanced combat missiles that will dramatically improve stand-off ground attack capabilities. These sophisticated missile systems will enable deep precision strikes with exceptionally high levels of accuracy, allowing the Indian Air Force to engage targets from safer distances while maintaining operational effectiveness.
Meanwhile, the AS-HAPS (Air-Ship Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite) systems represent a cutting-edge addition to India's surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. These platforms will be deployed for sustained intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, including electronic intelligence gathering, secure communications, and remote sensing for various military applications. Their high-altitude endurance allows for continuous monitoring over extended periods.
Procurement Process and Strategic Timeline
The acquisition process, which was previously cleared by the Defence Procurement Board last month, will now progress to the apex committee for the next round of approvals. Following this stage, formal technical and commercial negotiations will commence with relevant stakeholders and manufacturers.
The deal for the MRFA Rafale fighter jets is expected to be finalized during French President Emmanuel Macron's upcoming visit to India, highlighting the strategic partnership between the two nations and the diplomatic dimensions of major defence acquisitions.
Addressing Critical Capability Gaps
This procurement comes at a crucial time for the Indian Air Force, which currently operates approximately 30 fighter squadrons - significantly below its sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons. This capability gap exists even as threat perceptions from neighboring countries Pakistan and China continue to escalate.
Defence analysts have consistently flagged increasing strategic coordination between Pakistan and China, as well as between Pakistan and Bangladesh, as factors intensifying regional security concerns. These evolving geopolitical dynamics necessitate enhanced defence capabilities to maintain regional stability and national security.
Combat-Proven Platform with Advanced Capabilities
The Rafale fighter jet represents a combat-proven 4.5-generation platform that has demonstrated its effectiveness in offensive roles during recent military operations, including Operation Sindoor. The aircraft's arsenal includes advanced weapons systems such as Meteor and SCALP missiles along with precision laser-guided bombs, providing the Indian Air Force with versatile strike capabilities.
The Rafale induction is expected to meet the Indian Air Force's requirement for a 4.5-generation-plus multirole fighter for the foreseeable future. This acquisition becomes particularly significant as India's fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program remains several years away from operational deployment, and HAL's Tejas Mk-1A program has experienced delays due to challenges in engine supplies from US-based General Electric.
This comprehensive procurement package represents a strategic investment in India's defence modernization, addressing immediate capability requirements while supporting long-term indigenous defence manufacturing goals. The approvals signal India's commitment to maintaining credible deterrence capabilities in an increasingly complex regional security environment.
