On July 13, the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) granted approval for the acquisition of 26 Rafale M fighter jets and an additional three Scorpene submarines. This decision comes in response to the urgent and essential needs of the Indian Navy for carrier-based combat aircraft, and the Rafale M jets will provide the advantage of compatibility with the existing fleet of 36 Rafale jets currently in service with the Indian Air Force.
The three additional Scorpene submarines will expand the existing line of submarines being constructed at Mazagaon Dockyards Limited (MDL). These new submarines will feature advanced enhancements compared to the current class of submarines built by the shipyard, with five already delivered and the sixth expected to be completed next year.
India has a longstanding reliance on French fighter jets, dating back four decades. Prior to the acquisition of Rafale jets in 2015, India procured Mirage jets in the 1980s, which continue to operate as two squadrons within the Indian Air Force.
