Indian Navy set for major upgrade with Rafale-M acquisition and project 17B frigates

New Delhi: On Tuesday, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is expected to approve the procurement of 26 Rafale-Maritime strike aircraft for the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The DAC's green light will pave the way for the cost negotiation committee to begin its work following the adoption of the final amendment.

-Defence Acquisition Council expected to clear the acquisition of 26 Rafale-Maritime strike aircraft for aircraft carrier INS Vikrant today
-MQ-9B drone deal is pushed to end Oct or early Nov pic.twitter.com/BLrWVo7tpi

— Insightful Geopolitics (@InsightGL) September 3, 2024

Although official details remain under wraps, sources reveal that Singh will also make a critical decision regarding the construction of seven new Project 17B stealth frigates, with an estimated cost of ₹70,000 crore. Each frigate is anticipated to weigh around 8,000 tons and will significantly enhance India’s maritime strike capabilities.

Boost to Indian Naval strength

In the next three months, India’s naval capabilities are set to receive a substantial boost. A deal for acquiring 41 MQ-9B Predator armed drones is expected to be finalized by October 31, and the acquisition of Rafale-M fighters along with the indigenous construction of three additional Kalvari-class submarines is likely to be approved by the year’s end. This strategic enhancement follows discussions during Singh’s recent visit to the United States, where the acquisition of Predator drones was a focal point.

Amendment on AESA Radar

DAC is expected to drop the proposal for integrating the Defence Research and Development Organization's (DRDO) experimental Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar on the Rafale-M fighters due to the high costs and potential delays it could introduce. The Indian Navy urgently requires these Rafale-M fighters for INS Vikrant, as the MiG-29K fighters currently deployed on INS Vikramaditya are limited in number and in need of upgrades.

Strategic initiative amid Indo-Pacific tensions

Amid escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific, particularly with the PLA Navy's increasing assertiveness, India has no choice but to accelerate its maritime capabilities. The PLA Navy's future long-range patrols in the Indian Ocean, supported by bases in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Djibouti, Cambodia, and potentially Bangladesh, underscore the urgency.

Consequently, the Indian Navy will soon seek DAC approval for constructing advanced Project 15-class destroyers equipped with anti-ballistic missile systems and drone launch capabilities.