The Defence Procurement Board (DPB) has cleared the acquisition of Rafale M fighter jets and additional Scorpene class conventional submarines for the Indian Navy (IN), news agency ANI reported citing sources.
The proposals will now be sent to the defence acquisition council, the country’s top procurement body, and subsequently to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for final approval.
These deals are likely to be announced during PM Modi’s visit to France this week.
In order to expedite the procurement process, the deal for the deck-based twin-engine fighter jets will likely be channeled through a government-to-government (G2G) deal instead of taking an open tender route.
Also, as per the proposals the IN will get 22 single seated Rafale-M Marine Aircraft along with four trainer aircraft.
Notably, the Indian Navy is looking for the procurement of deck-based fighter jets for its indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, and had reportedly narrowed down on Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet and France’s Rafale-M aircraft, after a long evaluation.
However, it was the that Rafale-M emerged as the front runner by the end of the evaluation process.
Besides, the other order for three Scorpene class submarines would be acquired under the repeat clause by the Indian Navy as part of Project 75 where they would be built in the Mazagon Dockyards Limited in Mumbai.
Both the deals are estimated to be worth over Rs 90,000 Crores; however, the final cost would be decided only once the contract negotiations are completed which will be held later on.
