India, France sign pact for 26 Rafale-M jets for Indian Navy
New Delhi, April 28. India and France on Monday signed a major defence agreement for the purchase of 26 Rafale-Marine fighter aircraft for the Indian Navy, marking a significant boost to India’s maritime air power.
The Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) was signed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and French Minister of Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu at a ceremony held at Nausena Bhawan in New Delhi.
Under the deal, India will acquire 22 single-seater and four twin-seater Rafale jets, along with training systems, simulators, weapons, associated equipment, and performance-based logistics support. The agreement also covers the supply of additional equipment to upgrade the Indian Air Force’s existing Rafale fleet.
According to a press release issued by Dassault Aviation from Saint-Cloud, France, the Rafale Marine will provide the Indian armed forces with state-of-the-art capabilities and the Indian Navy will benefit from the experience of the French Navy, which already operates this aircraft. Along with the 36 Rafale already in service with the Indian Air Force, the Rafale Marine will play an active role in guaranteeing national sovereignty and consolidating India’s role as a major international player.
The signed agreements – including protocols for the supply of aircraft and weapons packages – were exchanged between Indian and French officials in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
As part of the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative, the pact includes the transfer of technology for integrating indigenous weapon systems. It also lays the groundwork for establishing production facilities for Rafale fuselages and setting up maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) centres for aircraft engines, sensors, and weapons within India. Officials expect these initiatives to generate thousands of jobs and create significant business opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Manufactured by Dassault Aviation, the Rafale-Marine is a carrier-borne fighter aircraft renowned for its performance in maritime operations. Deliveries of the aircraft are scheduled to be completed by 2030. Indian Navy personnel will undergo training in both France and India to operate the new jets.
The addition of Rafale-Marine fighters, which share commonality with the Indian Air Force’s Rafale fleet, is expected to strengthen joint operational capabilities and streamline training and logistics. The new aircraft will serve as a significant force multiplier for the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers, substantially enhancing India’s maritime air power.
“On behalf of Dassault Aviation and its partners, I would like to thank the Indian authorities, with whom we have been working for more than 70 years, for their confidence in us and reaffirm our unwavering determination to stand by their side to contribute to India’s expression of its sovereign power, its strategic challenges and its ambitious vision of the future,” said Éric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.
