GUWAHATI: India and France on Monday, April 28, formalised a landmark defence agreement for the acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets, a deal valued at over ₹63,000 crore. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral K. Swaminathan signed the contract at Nausena Bhawan in New Delhi, in the presence of the French Ambassador to India.
Cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on April 9, the deal includes 22 single-seater and four twin-seater Rafale-M aircraft, along with a comprehensive package comprising maintenance, logistics support, personnel training, simulators, and a five-year performance-based logistics framework. India will pay an initial 15% instalment as part of the government-to-government contract, with deliveries expected between 37 and 65 months.
The Rafale-M fighters, designed for maritime strike, air defence, and reconnaissance missions, will primarily operate from India’s two aircraft carriers — INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya — significantly enhancing the Indian Navy’s operational reach and maritime dominance in the Indian Ocean region. Currently operated only by the French Navy, the Rafale-M beat out the American F/A-18 Super Hornet after extensive Navy trials in 2022, benefiting also from logistical and maintenance commonality with the Indian Air Force’s fleet of 36 Rafales.
The new jets will be equipped with advanced weaponry, including the over 300-km range 'Scalp' air-to-ground cruise missiles, Meteor air-to-air missiles with a strike range of 120–150 km, and the 70-km range Exocet AM39 anti-ship missiles. The Rafale-M is also capable of delivering nuclear payloads, adding a potent strategic edge.
Importantly, India has requested the integration of indigenous systems like the Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile and the Rudram anti-radiation missile into the Rafale-M platform. Under offset obligations, key components and equipment will be manufactured domestically, aligning with India’s 'Make in India' and self-reliance push in defence manufacturing.
The Navy’s current carrier-borne fleet — limited to 40 operational MiG-29K jets, plagued by serviceability issues — made the acquisition of the Rafale-Ms an urgent necessity. With the indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) still a decade away from induction, the Rafale-M purchase serves as a crucial interim solution to maintain India’s carrier strike capabilities.
