IAF vice-chief hails Rafale as ‘hero of Operation Sindoor’, signals major fleet expansion

Indian Air Force (IAF) Vice-Chief Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor has praised the Rafale fighter jet as the “hero of Operation Sindoor,” signaling the service’s plans to expand its fleet of advanced combat aircraft.

“Rafale is definitely the buzzword,” India Today quoted Air Marshal Kapoor as saying, adding that the aircraft was the “hero of Operation Sindoor — among many other heroes.”

His comments come as India moves closer to approving a major proposal to acquire 114 multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA), with the Rafale widely seen as the frontrunner.

Earlier this week, India Today TV, citing sources_,_ reported that the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is expected to consider granting Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the multi-billion-dollar programme ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit later this month.

The proposal was cleared last month by the Defence Procurement Board, led by the Defence Secretary, marking a key procedural step toward formal negotiations for the acquisition.

If approved, the deal — valued at an estimated Rs 3.25 lakh crore — would be among the largest fighter jet procurements in India’s history.

While Air Marshal Kapoor did not specify a platform for the MRFA programme, he reaffirmed the IAF’s intent to bolster its combat fleet.

“We are looking forward to inducting more MRFA aircraft,” he was quoted as saying, adding, “I cannot say which type, as it is under deliberations.”

The push for the new fighter jet acquisition is driven by a growing capability gap in the Indian Air Force (IAF). The service currently operates around 29 fighter squadrons, well short of its sanctioned strength of 42, even as security challenges continue along both the western and northern borders.

Under the proposed deal, India plans to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets, with 18 to be delivered in fly-away condition and the remainder to be manufactured domestically.

Sources said nearly 80% of the fleet is expected to be produced in India, with indigenous content potentially reaching 60% under the Make in India initiative.

The configuration under consideration includes 88 single-seat and 26 twin-seat Rafale aircraft for the IAF. French manufacturer Dassault Aviation is expected to collaborate with Indian private sector firms for local production and assembly, boosting the country’s domestic aerospace manufacturing capabilities.

With inputs from agencies