Kirti Chakra Awardee Major Rawat Slams Rafale Deal Critics: “Understand the Direction Our Country is Heading”

As the Defence Ministry prepares to finalize the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets from France, critics have raised questions over the pricing and terms of the deal. Kirti Chakra awardee Major Digvijay Singh Rawat has responded sharply to these criticisms, urging citizens to focus on the strategic direction of the nation.

Major Rawat Defends the Deal

Speaking on social media platform X, Major Rawat highlighted that no serving or retired Indian Air Force pilot has criticized the Rafale deal. Instead, he said, the criticism is coming from “keyboard warriors” with no real operational experience. “These are the people who have never flown a real mission but are criticizing Prime Minister Modi, the Indian Air Force, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and the government from the safety of their desks,” he wrote.

Why Major Rawat Believes the Country is Moving in the Right Direction

Major Rawat further stated that when professionals with operational experience remain confident, while critics who have never taken risks express anger, it indicates that the nation is on the right path. He reaffirmed his support for the government’s decision and emphasized that experienced pilots and former officers have not raised any objections to the deal.

Details of the Rafale Deal

According to top Defence Ministry sources, the deal includes the purchase of 12–18 operationally ready Rafale jets initially for the Indian Air Force, with discussions ongoing to integrate Indian weapons and other indigenous systems into the French aircraft. While the source code for the jets remains with France, the deal will ensure 30% indigenous content, in line with the government’s Make in India policy.

Notably, although countries like the U.S. and Russia have offered their fifth-generation fighter jets (F-35, Su-57), India has opted for the Rafale to balance strategic, operational, and indigenous production priorities.

Strategic Significance for India’s Defence

If approved, this will be India’s largest defence deal to date, bringing the total number of Rafale jets in the Indian Air Force to 176. The IAF currently operates 36 Rafale jets, and the Indian Navy placed an order for 26 jets last year. The proposal for 114 additional jets has already been submitted to the Defence Ministry, and upon approval, it will be sent to the Cabinet Committee on Security for final clearance.