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The Indian Navy will purchase three Scorpene class conventional submarines and 26 Rafale fighter jets from France, according to plans approved by the defence minister on Thursday.
India buy Rafale jets and submarines: On July 13, 2023, a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved three bids, according to a statement from the ministry.
According to an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA), the DAC has approved the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft from the French government, along with related ancillary equipment, weapons, simulators, spare parts, documentation, crew training, and logistical support for the Indian Navy.
The negotiating team will consider all pertinent factors, including the comparative procurement prices of similar aircraft by other countries, to negotiate the price and other parameters of the purchase with the French government.
After careful negotiation, the contract agreements will include integration of equipment with Indian design and the creation of an MRO centre for diverse systems.
DAC Approves Acquisition of Additional Scorpene Submarines and Promotes Indigenous Manufacturing in Defence Sector
The DAC also approved an AoN for the purchase of three additional Scorpene submarines under the Buy (Indian) category. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) will be responsible for their construction.
The purchase of more submarines with a larger indigenous content, according to the ministry, will not only help to keep the Indian Navy’s force level and operational readiness at the needed level, but will also generate a considerable amount of employment possibilities within the domestic market.
The statement emphasized that this initiative will also help MDL strengthen its capacity and knowledge in building submarines.
The proposal to establish rules for obtaining the desired indigenous content in all classes of capital acquisition cases has also been approved by the DAC. Furthermore, By using indigenous manufacturing, it will be possible to achieve “Aatmanirbharta” in key manufacturing technologies and in the long-term maintenance of defence systems and equipment.