New Delhi, Feb 10 (NationPress) The Defence Ministry is poised to sanction a massive Rs 3.25 lakh crore agreement this week for the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets from France for the Indian Air Force, as per credible sources.

This approval is anticipated ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron's upcoming official visit to Delhi.

Once the Defence Ministry grants its approval, the deal will require further endorsement from the Cabinet Committee on Security, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The proposal outlines the purchase of 18 ready-to-fly Rafales from the French defense manufacturer Dassault Aviation, while the remaining 96 fighter jets will be produced 'in India'. Among these, several will be twin-seater aircraft designated for training purposes. This agreement will facilitate the transfer of cutting-edge fighter jet technology and foster a strategic partnership to invigorate the 'Make in India' initiative.

The Indian Air Force already operates 36 Rafales across two squadrons, with the final delivery of the 'C' variant expected by December 2024. Additionally, 26 Rafale jets of the 'M' variant have been ordered for the Indian Navy in a Rs 63,000 crore deal. These naval variants will be deployed from the aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.

This agreement includes provisions for fleet maintenance, logistics support, and personnel training through a MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) contract.

The Rafale jets were effectively utilized in Operation Sindoor, successfully hitting specific targets in Pakistan as part of India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack in May last year.

The Rafales were employed to deploy the SCALP, an air-launched cruise missile capable of striking fortified targets over 250 km away with high precision. They can also carry Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles, the Hammer stand-off strike weapon, and the Spectra, an advanced electronic warfare suite, along with sophisticated radar and targeting systems.

Additionally, in June of last year, France and India announced four significant production transfer deals between Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, which are expected to accelerate the delivery of outstanding Rafale orders to India.

Tata Advanced Systems is set to establish a state-of-the-art production facility in Hyderabad for manufacturing essential structural components of the French fighter, including the lateral shells of the rear fuselage, the complete rear section, the central fuselage, and the front section.

The first fuselage segments are scheduled to come off the production line in 2028.