India is set to bolster its naval airpower with the acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine fighter aircraft from France, following the Centre’s clearance of a government-to-government deal valued at over INR 63,000 crore. According to ANI, which cited government sources, the high-profile agreement with France’s Dassault Aviation is expected to be signed in the coming weeks.
The purchase includes 22 single-seater Rafale-M jets and four twin-seater variants, custom-designed to meet the Indian Navy's operational requirements. These aircraft will significantly enhance the Navy's carrier-based capabilities, with deliveries expected to begin within 37 to 65 months after the contract is signed, and all units scheduled to be delivered by 2030–31.
The deal also provides five years of performance-based logistics (PBL) support and a supply of spares for the 36 Rafale jets already in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF), acquired under a separate INR 59,000 crore deal signed in 2016.
Beyond naval operations, the new Rafale-M jets will support the IAF’s "buddy-buddy" aerial refuelling system—allowing Rafales to refuel each other mid-air—thus expanding operational range and flexibility. Defence sources also indicated that the contract could include ground-based infrastructure and software upgrades to ensure seamless coordination between the Navy’s and Air Force’s Rafale fleets.
While MiG-29Ks will continue to operate from INS Vikramaditya, the induction of Rafale-Ms is expected to mark a leap in the Navy’s air combat capabilities. Additionally, the Indian Navy is preparing for the future with plans to induct an indigenous fifth-generation twin-engine deck-based fighter, being developed by DRDO. This fighter will serve as the naval counterpart to the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), currently under development for the IAF.
This Rafale-M deal reinforces India’s strategic defence partnership with France and signals a significant upgrade in India's maritime and aerial defence preparedness.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)