India, April 5 -- The Narendra Modi government is all set to greenlight the acquisition of 26 Rafale-Maritime strike fighters this month, continuing the trend of increased capital spending on defence equipment. In 2024-25, the NDA government spent in excess of Rs.2 lakh crore on this.

HT learns that the $7.6 billion fighter jet deal is all set to go before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) later this month and will be followed by government approval for three additional diesel electric submarines after all the stakeholders are brought on the same page. The Rafale-M fighters will be used to give more teeth to the Indian Navy at sea onboard India's two aircraft carriers, while the additional submarines will strengthen conventional de...