You dont have javascript enabled! Please enable it! India to Sign Rs 63,000-Crore Deal with France for Rafale Marine Fighter Jets - Indian Defence Research Wing
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SOURCE: AFI

In a significant boost to India’s naval capabilities, the Indian government is set to finalize a Rs 63,000-crore deal with France for the acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets. The agreement, expected to be signed on April 28, 2025, in New Delhi, marks India’s largest-ever defense deal and underscores the deepening strategic partnership between India and France. The signing ceremony will be attended by French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu and senior officials from both nations.

The deal, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on April 9, 2025, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, includes 22 single-seater and four twin-seater Rafale Marine jets, manufactured by Dassault Aviation. These jets are specifically designed for carrier-based operations and will be deployed primarily on India’s indigenously built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, complementing the Navy’s existing fleet of Russian-origin MiG-29K jets. The Rafale Marine jets will enhance India’s maritime strike capabilities, particularly in response to increasing Chinese naval activities in the Indian Ocean region.

The comprehensive agreement encompasses not only the fighter jets but also advanced weapon systems, simulators, spares, personnel training, logistical support, and indigenous manufacturing of components. Key features of the Rafale Marine include reinforced landing gear, arrestor hooks, and foldable wings, enabling Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) operations on aircraft carriers. The jets are equipped with long-range precision-strike missiles, such as the 650-km-range Scalp-EG cruise missile, and plans are in place to integrate Indian-made missiles like the Astra and BrahMos-NG in the future.

This acquisition will increase India’s total Rafale fleet to 62, with the Indian Air Force (IAF) already operating 36 Rafale jets, inducted in 2016, at bases in Ambala and Hasimara. The commonality between the IAF’s Rafale jets and the Navy’s Rafale Marine variants is expected to streamline training, maintenance, and logistics. Additionally, the deal will enhance the IAF’s capabilities through upgrades to its “buddy-buddy” aerial refueling system, allowing longer mission durations.

The Rafale Marine jets were selected after a competitive evaluation process that included the American Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, with the French jets deemed more suitable for India’s requirements. Deliveries are expected to begin approximately five years after the contract is signed, with completion targeted for 2030-31. While the deal does not mandate local manufacturing, French companies like Dassault, Thales, and MBDA are likely to collaborate with Indian partners to produce components, aligning with India’s Make-in-India initiative.

The acquisition addresses critical gaps in the Indian Navy’s air arm, as the MiG-29K fleet has faced serviceability challenges. However, the purchase of 26 jets falls short of the Navy’s original requirement of 57, highlighting the need for further acquisitions or the development of indigenous alternatives like the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF), which is still a decade away from fruition. The deal also positions the Rafale as a frontrunner for the IAF’s planned procurement of 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA), potentially involving local production.

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