India is set to enhance its Rafale fleet with new Meteor missiles worth Rs 1,500 crore. The Defense Ministry is in the advanced stages of approval, and final clearance is expected soon.
Meteor missiles have a range of over 200 kilometers, providing the Indian Air Force with a significant long-range air-to-air combat advantage.
These advanced missiles feature ramjet propulsion, allowing speeds beyond Mach 4 and creating a large “no-escape zone” for enemy aircraft.
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Currently, Rafale is the only IAF fighter jet capable of firing Meteor missiles, which substantially boosts India’s aerial dominance.
The acquisition aligns with India’s strategic response to regional threats, as demonstrated in Operation Sindoor, where India successfully used long-range precision strikes against targets.
With Pakistan’s attempts to retaliate using Chinese-made PL-15 missiles proving ineffective, India’s move to bolster its Meteor stockpile reflects a sharpened focus on aerial superiority.
This purchase complements a wider Indian effort to upgrade air defense, including plans to equip Su-30 and LCA fleets with indigenous Astra Mark 2 missiles boasting beyond-200 km range.