Indian Air Force Pitching For 36 Additional Rafale Fighters, Says Report

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is ‘strongly pitching’ for acquisition of 36 additional Rafale fighter jets from France after the first batch of 36 is delivered by Dassault Aviation, Rajat Pandit of the Times of India has reported.

India had last September signed a Rs 59,000 crore contract with France for 36 Rafale fighter jets. According to the daily’s report, which cites sources in the Defence Ministry, the second batch of 36 Rafales would cost the government just over 60 per cent of the original acquisition and induction price.

However, no decision has been taken on the acquisition of additional Rafales, the report says. "But no final decision as yet has been taken on either the 36 more Rafales or the FGFA project," the report quotes a source as saying.

According to the report, IAF has told the government that the infrastructure coming up at Hasimara and Ambala airbases for the first batch of 36 Rafales can accommodate two Rafale squadrons each. "This will cut down the induction costs of the 36 additional fighters," the source quoted in the report added.