SOURCE: AFI
India is close to finalizing a major defense deal with France to procure 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for the Indian Navy. These jets are intended to operate from India’s two aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and the newly commissioned INS Vikrant. While the exact price of the deal has not been officially disclosed, media reports suggest that the pricing will be based on the Rafale jets previously procured for the Indian Air Force (IAF), adjusted for inflation.
In 2016, India signed a deal with France’s Dassault Aviation for 36 Rafale fighter jets for the IAF. The contracted price for those jets averaged out to €91.7 million (Rs 686 crore) per aircraft. This included 28 single-seat fighters priced at €91.07 million (Rs 681 crore) each and eight twin-seat fighters priced at €94 million (Rs 703 crore) per aircraft. The total cost of this deal amounted to €3.3 billion for the 36 “bare-bones” aircraft.
Considering this baseline, the new deal for the Rafale Marine jets is expected to reflect a similar price structure, with adjustments made for inflation. Industry estimates suggest a 6% annual inflation rate since 2016, which could significantly increase the final price of the Rafale Marine jets.
If the price of each Rafale in 2016 was €91.7 million, accounting for an annual inflation rate of 6%, the adjusted price for 2024 would likely be higher. Here’s a basic estimate:
- Base Price (2016): €91.7 million
- Annual Inflation Rate: 6%
- Years Since 2016: 8 years (2024 estimate)
Using these figures, the projected cost for each Rafale Marine jet in 2024 could be approximately €146 million (Rs 1,090 crore). This would bring the total cost for 26 aircraft to approximately €3.8 billion (Rs 27,860 crore).
The Rafale Marine jets will play a crucial role in bolstering the Indian Navy’s air power. These jets are designed to operate from aircraft carriers, making them a valuable asset for carrier-based operations in the Indian Ocean and beyond. The Indian Navy plans to station these aircraft at INS Dega in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, when not deployed on the carriers.