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With Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting Paris this week as chief guest at the Bastille Day parade on July 14, the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) is expected to meet in the next two days to decide on the purchase of 26 Rafale-M fighters and three additional Scorpene-class submarines. for the Indian Navy, along with the joint development of fighter aircraft engines.
Officials familiar with the development said there will likely be an announcement of these purchases during Prime Minister Modi’s visit.
Approval of the purchase of the platforms by the DAC, chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, will be the first step in the defense takeover process, followed by agreement on commercial terms, price negotiations and a final nod from the Cabinet’s Security Committee before the deal is finalized.
According to officials, while combat aircraft have been on the cards for some time, the plan to purchase Scorpene submarines came as a surprise, but it was fueled by the Navy’s dwindling submarine numbers.
“The decision was made given that Project 75(I) has not yet taken off and the upcoming replenishment of the Calvary-class submarines will further reduce submarine numbers,” said one of the officials. Indian Express.
to explain
Why would Rafale be an advantage
It is not yet known if these purchases will be a repeat order for Project 75. “If this is the case, the underwater platforms procurement schedule will be cut significantly,” the official said.
Under Project 75(I), the Navy is looking to purchase six advanced diesel-electric submarines, and the project will be handled under the DoD’s ambitious Strategic Partnership (SP) model of acquisition.
Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) is building six Scorpene-class submarines under Project 75 under Naval Group’s technology transfer, which was a $3.75 billion deal signed in October 2005. Five have already been commissioned and will likely be the last. Commissioned early next year.
Earlier, the Defense Procurement Board approved a proposal to purchase 26 aircraft for the Navy’s aircraft carriers. With the MiG-29Ks due to be phased out in the next few years, the purchase of the aircraft is a stop-gap arrangement.
Regarding the joint development of aircraft engines for India’s advanced medium combat aircraft project, India has talked with several global companies, including France’s Safran, UK’s Rolls Royce, and US’s General Electric.
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