‘Hero of Operation Sindoor’: IAF vice chief hails Rafale ahead of mega 114-jet deal

His remarks come at a crucial time, as New Delhi inches closer to approving one of its largest-ever fighter jet acquisitions — a proposed deal for 114 multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA).

Speaking about the aircraft’s operational performance, Air Marshal Kapoor said the Rafale has become a “buzzword,” underlining its role in Operation Sindoor and placing it among the standout performers in recent missions.

Momentum builds around 114-jet MRFA programme

The Vice-Chief’s comments coincide with growing anticipation around the government’s decision on the massive MRFA procurement.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is expected to consider granting Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the programme in the coming weeks.

Sources indicate that the proposal has already secured clearance from the Defence Procurement Board, led by the Defence Secretary — a significant procedural milestone that moves the project closer to formal negotiations.

If approved, the estimated Rs 3.25 lakh crore deal would rank among the largest fighter aircraft procurements in India’s history.

The timing is also noteworthy, as discussions are expected ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit later this month, with the Rafale widely seen as a leading contender.

IAF signals urgent need for fleet expansion

While Air Marshal Kapoor refrained from naming a specific platform for the MRFA programme, he made the Air Force’s intent clear.

He confirmed that the IAF is actively looking to induct additional multi-role fighter aircraft to strengthen its combat capabilities.

The urgency behind the procurement stems from a widening gap between sanctioned and operational strength.

The IAF currently fields around 29 fighter squadrons, significantly below its approved strength of 42.

This shortfall persists amid ongoing security challenges along India’s western and northern borders.

The proposed acquisition aims to address this capability gap while modernising the Air Force’s fleet with advanced multi-role platforms capable of handling a wide spectrum of operational requirements.

Make in India to anchor production

Under the proposed framework, India is expected to procure 114 Rafale jets, with 18 aircraft delivered in fly-away condition.

The remaining jets would be manufactured domestically, marking a major boost to indigenous aerospace production.

Nearly 80 percent of the aircraft are projected to be produced in India, with indigenous content potentially reaching up to 60 percent under the Make in India initiative.

The configuration under discussion reportedly includes 88 single-seat and 26 twin-seat variants tailored for the Indian Air Force.

French aerospace major Dassault Aviation is likely to collaborate with Indian private-sector firms for local manufacturing and assembly.

Such a partnership would significantly enhance India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem and deepen technology transfer.

Strategic and industrial significance

Beyond operational capability, the MRFA programme carries strategic and industrial weight.

Expanding the Rafale fleet — if finalised — would consolidate India’s air combat doctrine around advanced, network-centric warfare platforms.

Air Marshal Kapoor’s endorsement of the Rafale’s operational performance adds further momentum to the ongoing deliberations.