Safran Engine Assembly Under Rafale Deal: French engine company Safran has said it is ready to set up an engine assembly line in India. The company wants to meet New Delhi’s demand for local production. CEO Olivier Andries shared this with reporters on Friday.
This announcement comes at a time when India and France are talking about a new deal for 114 more Dassault Rafale fighter jets. Safran makes the M-88 engines that power the Rafale jets and it also plans to buy parts from Indian suppliers, reported Reuters.
DRDO Partners With CSIR for Joint Research Initiative Focusing on High Altitude Survival
Rafale Deal gets Initial Approval
The Indian government on Thursday gave early approval for several big defence purchases. This includes the plan to buy 114 more Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force. The approval came just before French President Emmanuel Macron is set to visit New Delhi next week.
The Defence Acquisition Council, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared a proposal worth Rs 3.25 lakh crore for the 114 jets. This is being called the biggest defence purchase in India’s history.
As per the plan, 18 jets will be bought directly from French company Dassault Aviation in ready condition. The rest of the aircraft are likely to be built in India. The deal will be done under a strategic partnership model. It aims to boost the government’s Make in India program. The agreement will also include transfer of advanced fighter jet technology.
After this step the proposal still needs final approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security. This committee is headed by the Prime Minister.
How the Rafale Jets will Help India
Right now India already operates 36 Rafale ‘C’ jets. These aircraft are based with No. 101 Squadron, known as the Falcons, in Hasimara, West Bengal. They are also deployed with No. 17 Squadron, called the Golden Arrows, in Ambala.
The extra 114 jets are expected to reduce the shortage of fighter squadrons in the Air Force. According to a 2024 parliamentary report, the IAF has only 29 squadrons while it needs at least 42. This means it is short by 13 squadrons. In September, the Air Force retired two squadrons of old Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 jets from the Cold War period. More old aircraft may be retired in the coming years.
New Indigenous Crown Defence Launches PCB Assembly Unit in Goa
The twin engine Rafale fighter was also used in Operation Sindoor. This was India’s military response after the Pahalgam terror attack last year. Apart from the Rafale purchase, the Air Force also received Acceptance of Necessity for other programs. These include Air-Ship Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite and different types of combat missiles.
The Indian Army also received approval for upgrades. This includes work on T-72 tanks, Armoured Recovery Vehicles, and Infantry Combat Vehicles like BMP-II. Approval was also given to buy Anti-Tank Mines called Vibhav. For the Navy, approval was cleared for a 04 MW Marine Gas Turbine based Electric Power Generator.
