France To Deliver First Batch Of Rafale In 2019

PM Modi and President Emmanuel Macron inked a defence deal in 2016 in France whereby France would supply 36 new Rafale fighter jets to India in a fly-away condition under the inter-government agreement. 

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is staring at an acute shortage of fighter aircrafts which has depleted to 32 squadrons against the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons to effectively deal with a two-front war. Such a deal obliterates the unnecessary and bureaucratic red tape and ensures faster delivery that would meet a time frame set by IAF to urgently fill operational gaps
 
The inter-government deal — $7.5 billion — will offset the 50% of the over $2.3 billion into the Indian defence manufacturing sector. The deal also created a share of controversy as Congress alleged a 'huge scam’ in Rafale fighter jets deal, holding the government accountable, saying the contract violated the procurement procedure and paid more than the prevailing cost of fighter jets.

The Rafale deal is also geared to the specific needs of Indian air force and will be modified by France to meet the critical requirements. It will be equipped with helmet mounted sights and targeting system to give the pilots lightening quick ability to shoot off weapons. It will be boosted with radar warning receiver and towed decoy system to thwart the missile attack in the air. Besides, it gets the better endurance capability to operate on India’s high altitude terrain like Leh. That adds to the cost. According the experts, Rafale will be India's most capable fighter aircraft in the existing fleets and ready to be deployed as combat worthy in 2019.