In a landmark move, India today signed a long-awaited contract with France to procure 26 Rafale-Marine (Rafale-M) fighter jets, marking one of the most significant milestones in Indian naval aviation history. Valued at around Rs 64,000 crore, the deal significantly strengthens the Indian Navy’s capabilities amid growing security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the French Minister of Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, have signed the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA). The signed copies of the agreement and the protocols for aircraft and weapons package supplies were exchanged by Indian and French officials in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS), Vice Admiral K Swaminathan and Chairman cum CEO of Dassault Aviation, Éric Trappier at Nausena Bhawan in New Delhi on April 28. This agreement also includes additional equipment for the existing Rafale fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The signing followed the final approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired on April 9 earlier this month.
Aligned with the government’s push for Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), the agreement includes provisions for the Transfer of Technology (ToT) to enable the integration of indigenous weapons in India.
“It also envisages the establishment of a production facility for Rafale fuselages, along with Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities for aircraft engines, sensors, and weapons systems within India,” the Defence Ministry said.
The initiative is expected to create thousands of jobs and generate substantial revenue for numerous micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) involved in the setting up, production, and operation of these facilities.
Manufactured by France’s Dassault Aviation, the Rafale-Marine is a carrier-based, combat-proven aircraft designed for operations in maritime environments. Delivery of the aircraft is scheduled to be completed by 2030, with training for Indian crew members to be conducted in both France and India.
India and France have signed a landmark Inter-Governmental Agreement for the procurement of 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets (22 single-seaters and 4 twin-seaters) for the @indiannavy, along with weapons, simulators, and training. The deal, signed by Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh… pic.twitter.com/IK1rsc8yCZ
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) April 28, 2025
About the Deal
The deal covers the acquisition of 22 single-seater Rafale-M jets optimized for aircraft carrier operations and four twin-seater trainer variants. While the twin-seaters are not carrier-capable, they will be crucial in pilot training and operational readiness.
As BharatShakti has reported earlier, the package includes advanced weapons systems, simulation equipment, spare parts, training modules, documentation, and a five-year logistics support program.
Delivery Timeline
Procurement will proceed under a government-to-government Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA), ensuring direct deliveries without intermediaries.
France, known for its ahead-of-scheduled deliveries, will begin handing over the jets by 2029. The full induction is expected to conclude by 2030.
Background and Selection
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had cleared the proposal in July 2023, coinciding with Prime Minister Modi’s visit to France, signalling the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations.
The Rafale-M was selected over Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet after rigorous trials. While both aircraft met the Navy’s operational requirements, the Rafale-M edged ahead due to its logistical and operational synergy with the Indian Air Force’s existing Rafale fleet — offering significant savings in training, maintenance, and lifecycle support.
Replacing the MiG-29K
The acquisition comes at a critical time as the Navy prepares to phase out its ageing MiG-29K fleet, plagued by technical and reliability issues. The Rafale-Ms will bolster the naval air arm aboard INS Vikramaditya and the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, serving as a stopgap until the indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) program matures around 2031.
Cutting-Edge Capabilities
The Rafale-M is a multirole, carrier-capable fighter armed with a formidable arsenal, including the SCALP long-range cruise missile, AM39 Exocet anti-ship missile, and the Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.
Its combat-tested capabilities — proven in French Navy operations from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle — bring a significant deterrent edge to India’s maritime forces, especially against expanding Chinese and Pakistani naval assets.
Buddy-Buddy Refuelling
An important addition to the deal includes retrofitting 10 Indian Air Force Rafales with “buddy-buddy” aerial refuelling pods. This move will extend the operational range of both services’ aircraft and enable seamless Navy-Air Force interoperability — a key enabler for joint operations.
Strategic Significance
India’s choice of the Rafale-M is both a tactical necessity and a strategic investment.
As China expands its naval reach across the Indian Ocean, India is reinforcing its maritime dominance with versatile, dual-operation platforms like the Rafale-M, which can launch from carriers and land bases alike.
The induction also marks a gradual shift away from Russian-origin platforms amid supply chain uncertainties and maintenance challenges. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had earlier raised concerns over the MiG-29 K’s operational reliability, underscoring the need for a more dependable replacement.
Beyond immediate operational benefits, the deal cements the growing India-France defence partnership. It opens doors for future co-production, technology transfer, and deeper industrial collaboration under India’s “Make in India” and self-reliance initiatives.
The Rafale-M is not just another aircraft for the Indian Navy — it is a force multiplier that positions India strongly in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific.
Ravi Shankar
Dr Ravi Shankar has over two decades of experience in communications, print journalism, electronic media, documentary film making and new media.
He makes regular appearances on national television news channels as a commentator and analyst on current and political affairs. Apart from being an acknowledged Journalist, he has been a passionate newsroom manager bringing a wide range of journalistic experience from past associations with India’s leading media conglomerates (Times of India group and India Today group) and had led global news-gathering operations at world’s biggest multimedia news agency- ANI-Reuters. He has covered Parliament extensively over the past several years. Widely traveled, he has covered several summits as part of media delegation accompanying the Indian President, Vice President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister across Asia, Africa and Europe.
