India and France Finalize ₹63,000 Crore Deal for 26 Rafale Marine Fighter Jets

Agreement Strengthens Indian Navy’s Combat Capabilities

India and France have signed a landmark defense agreement for the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets, valued at ₹63,000 crore. The official signing ceremony took place in New Delhi on April 28, where India’s Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and the French Ambassador to India formalized the deal. Vice Admiral K. Swaminathan, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, was also present at the signing.

The deal marks a significant boost to the Indian Navy’s combat strength, as the acquisition will provide advanced carrier-borne fighter capabilities for India’s indigenously built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.

Key Details of the Rafale Marine Procurement

The agreement, approved by India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) earlier this month under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, includes the delivery of 22 single-seater and four twin-seater Rafale Marine jets. Under the contract terms, France is obligated to deliver the first aircraft within 37 months from the signing date.

This procurement replaces India’s previous consideration of the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, following comprehensive evaluations and sea trials. Initially, India planned to purchase 57 carrier-borne fighter aircraft but later revised the requirement to 26 units under the emergency procurement policy via a government-to-government arrangement.

Rafale Marine’s Suitability for Indian Naval Operations

Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of Rafale jets, demonstrated the Rafale Marine’s “ski-jump” takeoff capability, essential for operations on INS Vikrant. The aircraft underwent successful sea trials at INS Hansa in Goa in January last year.

While the Rafale Marine shares design similarities with the Indian Air Force’s Rafale variant, it features several modifications for naval operations, including a strengthened undercarriage, a reinforced nose wheel, a larger arrestor hook, and an integrated boarding ladder. The aircraft is capable of carrying an external payload of four to five tons with full internal fuel during ski-jump takeoff operations.

Currently operated by the navies of France, Greece, Indonesia, and the UAE, the Rafale Marine is expected to significantly enhance the operational readiness of the Indian Navy. The induction will also enable the gradual phasing out of aging Russian-origin MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB fighter jets from the naval fleet.