`For the first time` Defence secretary RK Singh shares big update on India`s purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets
For the first time…’ Defence secretary RK Singh shares big update on India’s purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets.
On Defence Acquisition Council clears a proposal to buy 114 Rafale fighter jets. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said, "... For the first time, Rafale aircraft will be manufactured outside France with significant levels of localisation. We are seeking a minimum of 40 to 50%... The first time 'Make in India,' Rafael outside France backed up by a government-to-government agreement, no intermediaries, full transparency in the project itself, G2G significant levels of localisation, and full authority to integrate Indian weapons and Indian systems are the highlights of this program. It also enables us to induct fighter aircraft relatively quickly because the first of the Rafale Marines will start coming in '28, and after that, over a period of time, you will see that about three and a half years from now, the first of these Air Force Rafales will also start coming.”
