DAC to consider Rafale acquisition ahead of Macron visit

Ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India for the Artificial Intelligence Summit, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is scheduled to meet in the second week of February to consider key procurement proposals aimed at enhancing the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces.

A senior defence official confirmed that the DAC meeting will grant Acceptance of Necessity for several acquisition proposals. During his stay, President Macron is also expected to meet Mr. Singh to discuss bilateral defence cooperation between India and France.

Another defence official said that multiple proposals will be tabled at the meeting, including the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter aircraft from France. Following DAC clearance, the proposal will be placed before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by the Prime Minister, for final approval.

Under the proposed plan, the bulk of the aircraft would be manufactured in India, with indigenous components accounting for approximately 30 to 40% of the overall content, providing a significant boost to domestic defence manufacturing. The official added that around 18 aircraft are likely to be acquired in fly-away condition to meet the Indian Air Force’s immediate operational requirements, while the remaining jets would be manufactured in India. The source code, however, would remain with the French side.

Defence experts noted that once cleared by the CCS, the deal would rank among the largest defence acquisitions undertaken by India. The procurement would take the total Rafale fleet in the country to 176 aircraft, with the Indian Air Force already operating 36 Rafale jets and the Indian Navy having placed orders for 26 naval variants last year.

The AI Summit is expected to see participation from representatives of several countries, including Brazil, Switzerland, Greece, Serbia, Spain and Finland, among others.

Separately, Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, in his interaction with media persons earlier, had flagged concerns over delays in fighter aircraft deliveries, noting that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has fallen behind schedule, partly due to delays in the supply of F404-IN20 engines from GE.

The IAF has repeatedly underscored the urgency of strengthening its fighter fleet amid a rapidly evolving regional security environment. “To maintain a comfortable strength, we need two squadrons, around 30 to 40 aircraft, produced every year. Replacement is not a choice; it’s a necessity,” the Air Chief had said earlier.