A big deal occurred between India and France regarding the Rafale aircraft. The total number of Aircraft will be 26, out of which 22 numbers of jets will be Single-Seat (Rafale M) Carrier-based fighters specially designed for operations from aircraft carriers. The rest 04 Twin-Seat Rafale B, primarily operating from land-based training missions. The Deal Value is going to cost ₹63,000 crore ($7.5 billion) approx. according to the source. Deliveries will begin from the last of 2029 and are expected to be completed by mid-2031. It will strengthen the Indian Navy’s air capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region and will replace the retiring fleet of jets.

It is equipped with updated landing gear, best-in-class tail hooks, arrested landings, and a better alloy airframe with good strengthening. The advanced radar, as per the sub-continent requirement for warfare suite, provides extraordinary awareness and better defense capabilities to the jet for its avionics. It will be very highly capable of deploying a variety of advanced weapons, such as air-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and cruise missiles, making it a versatile combatant and becoming one of the leaders in this segment. It can achieve speeds up to Mach 2 with a combat range of 1,900-2000 km, with mid-air refueling capabilities for extending its operational reach.

The Indian Navy’s Rafale M jets will incorporate several customizations, such as Helmet-Mounted displays for improved pilot combat awareness, Enhanced Communication instruments for better radio and jammers, Software updated for future missions compatible with aircraft carriers, and Electromagnetic Compatibility for adjusting communication with existing naval software.

The Rafale M jets will operate from India’s aircraft carriers, enhancing the Navy’s capabilities. The twin-seat Rafale B will probably be stationed at shore for pilot training and carrier operations. This procurement will make a significant and bold step in empowering India’s maritime capabilities, ensuring the Navy with advanced equipped jets to address the emerging security challenges in the Indian Ocean and other Ocean region.