The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has formally granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of over 36 additional Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
This approval serves as a definitive endorsement of the missile's strategic value and signals the government’s intent to address immediate inventory requirements, even as negotiations for a separate, long-pending follow-on contract continue.
By decoupling this specific procurement from the broader deal, the Ministry of Defence aims to prevent any capability gaps in the nation's air dominance architecture.
According to defence officials privy to the development, the newly approved batch is in addition to the stockpile originally secured under the 2016 inter-governmental agreement for 36 Rafale fighter jets.
While the initial package included a specific number of Meteors to provide a qualitative edge, evolving threat perceptions and operational planning have necessitated a significantly larger arsenal.
The decision to seek AoN ahead of the final closure of the follow-on deal indicates a strategy to 'front-load' procedural approvals, thereby compressing delivery timelines once commercial negotiations are finalised.
The Meteor missile, manufactured by the European consortium MBDA, is widely regarded as a game-changer in modern aerial warfare due to its unique propulsion system.
Unlike conventional air-to-air missiles that rely on a short-burn rocket motor, the Meteor is powered by a solid-fuel variable flow ducted rocket (ramjet).
This technology allows the missile to throttle its engine during cruise and accelerate to speeds exceeding Mach 4, maintaining high energy levels all the way to the target.
Consequently, it boasts the largest "no-escape zone" of any air-to-air missile in its class—estimated by open sources to be over 60 kilometres—ensuring that adversary aircraft cannot evade the weapon even through aggressive manoeuvring at extended ranges.
From a strategic perspective, this procurement aligns with the IAF’s doctrine of establishing credible deterrence against regional air forces, which are increasingly inducting advanced fighters and long-range weaponry such as the Chinese PL-15.
The ability of the Meteor to engage targets at ranges reportedly exceeding 150 kilometres allows IAF pilots to dominate contested airspace while remaining outside the lethal envelope of enemy defences. This capability is considered critical for maintaining superiority in potential two-front conflict scenarios.
The DAC's clearance also underscores a continuity in the IAF’s weapons integration strategy for the Rafale platform, prioritizing the Meteor as the primary solution for long-range engagements rather than diversifying into multiple missile types.
Once inducted, this expanded inventory will significantly bolster the IAF’s readiness, allowing for sustained high-intensity combat operations and reinforcing India's overall defensive posture in the region.
