NEW DELHI: In a significant development, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has given its preliminary approval for the procurement of 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets and three Scorpene diesel-electric submarines destined for the Indian Navy.

These proposals underwent rigorous discussions during high-level meetings at the Defence Ministry before being presented before the Council, which is chaired by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Demonstrating their operational capabilities, the naval version of Rafale fighter jets from France, along with the American F/A-18 Super Hornet, showcased their prowess last year.

The signing of an agreement for the purchase is expected to take place during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ongoing two-day visit to France, which commenced on Thursday.

It's worth noting that the previous purchase of 36 Rafale jets from France was intended for the Indian Air Force.

Under this new deal, the Indian Navy is set to acquire 22 single-seater Rafale Marine aircraft, in addition to four trainer jets.

Defence experts emphasize the urgent need for these aircraft and submarines, as the Indian Navy has been grappling with shortages and must bolster its capabilities, particularly in light of security challenges in the Indian Ocean region.

Both aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and Vikrant, have been utilizing MiG-29s and require Rafales for operations on both vessels.

While the estimated value of these agreements exceeds Rs 90,000 crore, the final cost will only be determined once contract negotiations are finalized, according to a reliable source.

The country is expected to pursue some concessions in terms of pricing and may also emphasize a greater emphasis on incorporating 'Make In India' content, a knowledgeable official disclosed.

Meanwhile, India has also laid out plans to procure Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) from the US for the tri-services.

On June 15, the DAC granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B (16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian) High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for the Tri-Services, through the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) route.

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