Rafale M: India finalizes purchase of 26 naval fighters from France
The contract includes technology transfer, local production, training, and integration of domestic weaponry.
In a new phase of strategic bilateral cooperation, India and France signed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on April 28, 2025 for the acquisition of 26 Rafale M fighter jets for the Indian Navy. The agreement was signed at Nausena Bhawan in New Delhi by India’s Minister of Defense, Shri Rajnath Singh, and his French counterpart, Sébastien Lecornu, in the presence of Indian Defense Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh.
The package includes 22 single-seat and four two-seat fighter jets, along with training, simulators, associated equipment, armament, and performance-based logistics (PBL) support. The agreement also provides for additional components for the existing fleet of Rafale jets operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Replacing the MiG-29K
The Rafale M jets, manufactured by Dassault Aviation, will gradually replace the Russian-made MiG-29K/KUB aircraft currently deployed with the carrier-based squadrons INAS 300 "White Tigers" and INAS 303 "Black Panthers." Their induction will significantly boost the air capabilities of the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, and in a second phase, could also extend to the INS Vikramaditya, strengthening the technological transition of India's carrier aviation.
Deliveries of the new fighters are expected to be completed by 2030. Meanwhile, crews will undergo training in both France and India, utilizing advanced simulators installed locally, particularly at the INS Hansa naval base in Goa, which is equipped with infrastructure specifically designed for carrier-based aircraft operations.
Technology transfer and local employment
Aligned with the national "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) initiative, the signed agreement includes provisions for technology transfer to integrate Indian-made weaponry into the Rafale M jets. Additionally, production facilities for airframes and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) centers for engines, sensors, and weapons systems will be established in India.
This technology transfer will not only strengthen the operational autonomy of India’s Armed Forces but also create thousands of jobs and boost the participation of local micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the defense industrial ecosystem.
AUTOR
Apasionado por la aviación, la historia, la política y la defensa. Editor-in-Chief en Aviacionline Defensa, combinando estos conocimiento para ofrecer un contenido valioso sobre temas estratégicos y de seguridad.
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