The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has cleared capital acquisition proposals worth ₹3.60 lakh crore, including approval for the procurement of 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) —Rafale, for the Indian Air Force, officials said on Thursday. The clearance comes just days ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s scheduled visit to India.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the IAF covers three major capabilities: MRFA (Rafale), Combat Missiles, and Airship-Based High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (AS-HAPS) systems. A significant portion of the fighter aircraft is expected to be manufactured in India, aligning with the government’s push for domestic defence production.
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“The procurement of MRFA will enhance the capability of undertaking air dominance roles across the spectrum of conflict and significantly boost the deterrence capabilities of the Indian Air Force with long-range offensive strikes,” the ministry said in a statement.
The Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh, today accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) worth Rs. 3.60 lakh crore, for key capability enhancements across the Defence Forces. For the IAF, approvals include MRFA (Rafale), Combat Missiles and…
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) February 12, 2026
The Rafale jets will be sourced from France’s Dassault Aviation and are intended to address the steady decline in fighter squadron strength within the Indian Air Force, which has dropped to 29 squadrons against an approved strength of 42. The retirement of the MiG-21 fleet last year and the impending phase-out of older variants of the MiG-29, Jaguar and Mirage-2000 have added urgency to the procurement.
Missiles, surveillance platforms and army upgrades
Alongside the fighter jets, the DAC also cleared Combat Missiles designed to enhance stand-off ground-attack capability with deep-strike reach and high accuracy. The AS-HAPS systems will provide persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), electronic intelligence, telecommunications and remote sensing support for military operations.
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For the Indian Army, approvals were granted for the induction of Anti-Tank Mines (Vibhav) and the overhaul of vehicle platforms used in Armoured Recovery Vehicles, T-72 tanks and BMP-II infantry combat vehicles. The ministry said these measures would extend the service life of existing equipment and improve operational readiness.
Navy set for capability boost
The latest clearance will also be beneficial to the Indian Navy. The DAC has approved the acquisition of a 4 MW Marine Gas Turbine-based Electric Power Generator under the Make-I category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, aimed at reducing dependence on foreign suppliers. Apart from this, clearance has also been given for additional P8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft.
