India Approves Massive Purchase of Rafale Fighter Jets, Investing 8.6 Trillion Baht

India's defense procurement council has approved the purchase of 114 Dassault Rafale fighter jets from France, valued at 280 billion US dollars or over 8.6 trillion baht. The move comes after India was left with only 29 fighter jets, well below the mandatory requirement of 42, due to the phasing out of older aircraft models like MiG-21, MiG-29, and Mirage-2000. This large-scale military equipment acquisition is part of India's efforts to boost its defense capabilities and reduce dependence on foreign weapon purchases. One key focus is the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is developing the indigenous Hal Tejas fighter jet after over 30 years of development. The purchase is also influenced by ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, prompting the government to modernize its military capabilities, and follows discussions during French President Emmanuel Macron's recent visit to India.