NewsGate Press Network

By Vineet Dikshit

India has signed a far reaching deal to buy 26 French Rafale fighter jets that will operate from flight decks of its two aircraft carriers namely INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.

The G-to-G (government-to-government) deal was formalised on Monday the 28th of April 2025 in Delhi.

The original signed papers were formally exchanged between Indian and French officials in presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar.

From Indian side, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh signed the deal while his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu signed the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA).

The cost of the 26 Rafale Marine Aircraft (22 Single-Seater and four Twin-Seater) is estimated to be Rs 63,000 crore, although the price was not mentioned in the official statement issued by the Defence Ministry.

The statement said that the IGA includes training, simulator, associated equipment, weapons and performance-based logistics.

It also includes additional equipment for the existing Rafale fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

In line with the government’s thrust on ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, the agreement includes transfer of technology for integration of indigenous weapons in India.

It also includes setting up of production facility for Rafale fuselage as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities for aircraft engine, sensors and weapons in India.

The deal is expected to generate thousands of jobs and revenue for a large number of MSMEs in setting up, production and running of these facilities.

Manufactured by France’s Dassault Aviation, the Rafale-Marine is a carrier-borne combat-ready aircraft with proven operational capabilities in maritime environment.

The delivery of these aircraft would be completed by 2030, with the crew undergoing training in France and India.

Rafale-Marine has commonality with the Rafale being operated by IAF.

Its procurement will substantially enhance joint operational capability, besides optimising training and logistics for the aircraft for both Indian Navy and IAF.

The induction would lead to the addition of a potent force multiplier to the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers, substantially boosting the nation’s air power at sea.