NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s Ministry of Defence is set to include a requirement for integrating domestic research-and-development capabilities in the request for proposals for 114 new Rafale fighter jets, officials familiar with the procurement plan said Saturday.
The clause, known as the Integration of DRDO Capabilities (ICD) Clause, will mandate that the French-built aircraft be configured from the outset to carry indigenous weapons, including the Astra air-to-air missile and the Rudram anti-radiation missile.
The request for proposals is expected to be issued in May.
The stipulation is designed to ensure that 40 percent to 50 percent of the content in the 1-lakh-crore-rupee program is sourced and produced domestically.
It addresses past procurement challenges in which foreign platforms required costly and time-consuming retrofits to accept Indian weapons and sensors.
The ICD Clause forms part of a broader effort to align major capital acquisitions with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat self-reliance initiative in defense.
By requiring compatibility during the initial contract phase rather than after delivery, the ministry aims to reduce long-term dependency on foreign suppliers for upgrades and sustainment while building industrial capacity within the country.
The Rafale, manufactured by Dassault Aviation, is already in service with the Indian Air Force. The new batch would expand the fleet and replace older aircraft while maintaining interoperability with existing platforms.
No decision has been announced on the final contract value or delivery schedule.
The Ministry of Defence declined to comment beyond confirming that the ICD Clause will be part of the forthcoming tender documents.
(information collected from news Agencies)