Rafale-Ms to bolster naval aviation, operate from INS Vikrant amid Indo-Pak tensions
India and France have signed a landmark ₹63,000 crore ($7.5 billion) government-to-government deal for the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for the Indian Navy. The agreement was formalized in New Delhi on Monday, with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh representing India and Vice Chief of Naval Staff Admiral K Swaminathan in attendance, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
The Rafale-M jets will strengthen India’s maritime combat capability and replace ageing MiG-29Ks.
Approved earlier this month by the Cabinet Committee on Security led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the deal includes 22 single-seat Rafale-M jets and four twin-seat trainers. These aircraft will operate from the Indian Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and are equipped for maritime strike, air defence, and reconnaissance roles. The contract also provides for weapons, simulators, training, and five-year performance-based logistics support.
India will make an initial 15% payment, and deliveries are expected to be completed between 37 and 65 months from now, with all jets scheduled to arrive by 2031.
Rafale-M jets equipped with advanced weaponry including SCALP, Meteor, and Exocet missiles.
The 4.5-generation omni-role Rafale-M aircraft will be armed with state-of-the-art weapons such as the over 300-km range ‘Scalp’ air-to-ground cruise missiles, the long-range 120–150 km Meteor air-to-air missiles, and 70-km range Exocet AM39 anti-ship missiles. These weapons will give the Navy enhanced offensive and defensive capabilities, including nuclear delivery potential.
The Rafale-M was selected over the US-made F/A-18 Super Hornet after extensive trials in 2022, partly due to existing logistical infrastructure, as the Indian Air Force already operates 36 Rafale jets.
With MiG-29Ks plagued by serviceability issues, Rafales will serve as a crucial stop-gap
The Indian Navy currently operates 40 MiG-29K fighters acquired from Russia between 2009 and 2010, which have faced persistent technical and serviceability challenges. With the indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) expected to take a decade to mature, the Rafale-Ms will serve as a strategic interim solution to maintain operational readiness on INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.