In order to give new energy to the strength of the country’s growing Air Force, the Government of India started the initiative to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets from France in 2012, and finally, on July 29, 2020, India got 5 jets of this deal.
It is known that India had issued tenders for multirole new fighter jets in the year 2007 to strengthen its air force in which F-16, FA-18, Russia MiG-35, Sweden Grippin, France Rafale and The European group had submitted a claim for Eurofighter Typhoon. In the last race on 27 April 2011, Eurofighter and Rafael were found to be favorable to Indian conditions and this tender was finally awarded to Rafael on 31 January 2012, due to cheap conditions and most of the Indian conditions and standards during field trials.
The Rafale jet is manufactured by the French company Dassault Aviation. It was decided at the time of the UPA government that the French company would deliver 18 finished aircraft and the remaining 108 aircraft would be built in India with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. It was also decided in the agreement that France would also transfer the full technology of aircraft making to India.
Why did India need Rafale Deal
As everyone knows, India has always been buying fighter jets from Russia. Even today, the Indian Air Force has aircraft made in Russia; Includes aircraft such as MiG-21, MiG-27, Sukhoi-30. The squadrons of MiG-21 and MiG-27 are in decline and are expected to be fully outfitted by the end of 2018. They will have to be replaced by new technology aircraft.
