New Delhi, February 12, 2026
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved a major procurement proposal worth approximately ₹3.25 lakh crore, marking one of India’s largest defense acquisitions to date. The clearance covers 114 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and 6 P-8I Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft for the Indian Navy.
The addition of 114 Rafale jets is expected to create 6 to 7 new squadrons for the IAF, addressing the declining squadron strength. The IAF currently operates around 30 squadrons, below the authorized requirement of 42 squadrons needed for national security. Following DAC approval, the proposal will now be forwarded to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for final sanction.
For the Navy, the approval of 6 additional P-8I aircraft will bolster maritime domain awareness. The Indian Navy already operates 12 P-8I aircraft, and these new platforms will further strengthen surveillance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities in the Indian Ocean region.
