SOURCE: AFI
The Indian Navy’s much-anticipated acquisition of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets has received the green light from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), marking a significant step toward bolstering its carrier-based aviation capabilities. However, the first batch of these French-built, carrier-capable jets won’t be delivered until late 2025 at the earliest, even if the deal is finalized within the next two to three months. Production bottlenecks and existing backlogs at Dassault Aviation’s facilities in France mean the Navy will face a wait, tempering the urgency of replacing its ageing MiG-29K fleet.
The CCS clearance, granted in early April 2025, paves the way for negotiations to conclude a government-to-government (G2G) contract with France, estimated at over ?50,000 crore ($6 billion). The Rafale-M, a naval variant of the Rafale fighter already in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF), is tailored for operations from the Navy’s aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. With advanced avionics, a reinforced undercarriage, and compatibility with ski-jump takeoffs and arrested landings, the jet promises to enhance the Navy’s strike and air defence capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Yet, despite the urgency—driven by the MiG-29K’s maintenance woes and crash-prone record—the delivery timeline is constrained by Dassault’s production realities. The company’s Merignac plant near Bordeaux, currently churning out Rafales at a rate of 11-14 jets annually, is juggling orders for the French Air Force, export customers like Egypt and Qatar, and the IAF’s 36 Rafale jets (delivered by 2022). A backlog exacerbated by post-COVID supply chain snarls and increased global demand has left little slack. “The first lot will be handed over only in 2025,” a source familiar with the talks told ANI, noting that even a swift deal closure by June 2025 won’t accelerate the schedule.
The Navy’s order—26 jets, including 22 single-seat Rafale-Ms and four twin-seat trainers—requires Dassault to ramp up production or divert slots, both of which face hurdles. France’s own military needs, including a 2023 order for 42 additional Rafales, take precedence, while export commitments to Indonesia (42 jets) and the UAE (80 jets, pending finalization) further crowd the pipeline. Posts on X reflect frustration, with one user lamenting, “CCS clearance is great, but 2025? MiG-29Ks are falling apart now!”
Negotiations, expected to wrap up by mid-2025, will finalize costs, offsets, and India-specific enhancements—mirroring the IAF’s Rafale deal, which included Meteor missiles and SCALP munitions. The Navy’s jets will likely integrate indigenous systems like the Astra missile and Uttam radar modules, with HAL overseeing local maintenance. Yet, the production delay means the Navy must limp along with its 40 MiG-29Ks, of which only half are typically operational due to engine issues and spares shortages.
The Rafale-M edged out Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet in the Navy’s selection process, clinched by its proven carrier pedigree (used by the French Navy since 2004) and commonality with the IAF’s fleet, easing logistics. With a combat radius of over 1,000 km and a 9.5-ton payload, it’s a leap over the MiG-29K’s limitations, positioning the Navy to counter China’s growing naval presence in the IOR.
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