In a major boost to India’s maritime air power, New Delhi on Monday signed a ₹64,000 crore agreement with France to procure 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for the Indian Navy. The deal, inked under a government-to-government framework, marks a significant step in strengthening India’s naval aviation capabilities.
The agreement includes 22 single-seat combat aircraft capable of operating from aircraft carriers and four twin-seat trainer variants. These jets, manufactured by French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation, will be primarily deployed on INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously-built aircraft carrier.
Deliveries of the Rafale M jets are expected to start in approximately three and a half years and will be completed within six and a half years, according to officials familiar with the matter.
The contract follows the recent approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and comes as the Indian Navy looks to modernize its fleet amid growing strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. The new jets will complement the Navy’s current inventory of MiG-29K aircraft, which operate from both INS Vikrant and the older INS Vikramaditya. The MiG-29Ks, of Russian origin, have been plagued with operational and maintenance issues, raising the urgency for a more reliable and advanced platform.
Moreover, enhancing the Navy’s strike capabilities, the Rafale Marine aircraft are also expected to support the Indian Air Force (IAF). The jets will be integrated into the IAF’s “buddy-buddy” aerial refuelling system, allowing up to ten Rafale jets to refuel each other mid-air — a feature that will significantly extend their operational range and flexibility.
The IAF already operates 36 Rafale jets acquired under a ₹60,000 crore deal signed with France in 2016. The first batch arrived in Ambala in 2020, heralding a new phase in India’s air defence posture.
Meanwhile, the IAF continues to face a critical shortfall in its fighter squadrons. Last month, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh underscored the need for inducting 35 to 40 new fighter jets annually to compensate for depleting strength due to the planned retirement of older fleets. The IAF currently operates 31 active squadrons — significantly below the sanctioned strength of 42 — impacting its ability to maintain optimal operational readiness.
The new Rafale M deal is being viewed as a strategic investment in both India’s air and naval power projection, amid increasing security concerns in the region.
