New Delhi [India] : In a major boost to its naval aviation capabilities, India on Monday signed a ₹63,000 crore defence deal with France for the acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine (Rafale M) combat aircraft. The agreement was signed at the Defence Ministry headquarters in South Block, New Delhi.
Representing their countries at the signing ceremony were French Ambassador to India and Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, along with senior officials. Defence Ministers from both nations attended the event remotely, following the French Defence Minister’s last-minute cancellation due to personal reasons.
The Cabinet Committee on Security had given its approval for the deal earlier this month, marking a significant strategic move for the Indian Navy, which urgently requires advanced fighters to replace its aging fleet of MiG-29K aircraft plagued by maintenance and reliability issues.
“The Rafale Marine fighters will operate from India’s aircraft carriers, including the newly commissioned INS Vikrant, alongside the MiG-29K fleet,” the Indian Navy said in a statement.
The government-to-government contract covers 22 single-seater and 4 twin-seater Rafale M jets, specially adapted for carrier operations to meet Indian requirements. Beyond the aircraft themselves, the agreement also includes a comprehensive package for maintenance support, logistics, pilot training, and localized component manufacturing — a move aimed at enhancing India’s defence self-reliance.
This marks the second major Rafale acquisition by India, after the Indian Air Force inducted 36 Rafale jets under a 2016 deal. The IAF Rafales are currently based at Ambala (Haryana) and Hasimara (West Bengal), securing critical air sectors.
With this addition, India’s Rafale fleet will increase to 62, bolstering the country’s arsenal with cutting-edge 4.5-generation fighters equipped with advanced radar systems, weaponry, and carrier-borne operational capabilities.
The Rafale M jets are being viewed as a stopgap solution, as India simultaneously works toward developing its own indigenous carrier-borne fighter, the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF), projected to be operational later this decade.