New Delhi: India and France on Monday finalised a major defence agreement worth ₹63,000 crore for the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets. The contract was officially signed at the Defence Ministry headquarters in South Block, New Delhi, with representatives from both nations in attendance.
The deal includes 22 single-seater and four twin-seater Rafale M (Marine) aircraft tailored for carrier operations and customised to meet Indian Navy specifications. These jets are set to be deployed aboard INS Vikrant, India’s indigenously built aircraft carrier, to enhance its operational capabilities.
The agreement follows recent approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security and comes at a time when the Indian Navy urgently needs new carrier-based fighters, given persistent maintenance issues affecting its current fleet of MiG-29K aircraft.
The signing ceremony was attended by French Ambassador to India and Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, among other senior officials. Although the French defence minister was originally scheduled to attend in person, he joined the event remotely due to personal reasons. Indian and French defence ministers also participated virtually.
This government-to-government deal not only includes the aircraft but also covers a comprehensive support package involving maintenance, logistics, crew training, and indigenous production of components in India. The Rafale M jets will operate alongside the MiG-29Ks until India develops and deploys its own indigenous carrier-based fighter.
With this new acquisition, India’s total fleet of Rafale jets will rise to 62, including the 36 Rafale aircraft already in service with the Indian Air Force at Ambala and Hasimara bases. The expanded fleet marks a significant boost to India’s 4.5-generation fighter capabilities.
