India and France officially sign $7.5 billion agreement for 26 Rafale Marine jets to modernize carrier strike capabilities
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
On April 28, 2025, Dassault Aviation announced that India and France signed the Inter-Governmental Agreement enabling the acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for the Indian Navy. The contract was signed in Saint-Cloud, France, in the presence of Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Éric Trappier. The agreement, valued at approximately $7.5 to $7.6 billion (€7 billion or ₹63,000 crore), includes the delivery of 22 Rafale Marine single-seat fighters and 4 Rafale B twin-seat trainers, as well as weapons packages, performance-based logistics (PBL) support, maintenance, simulators, ancillary equipment, personnel training, and updates for the 36 Rafale aircraft already operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF). It also covers offset obligations requiring the local manufacturing of components and equipment in India.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Deliveries of the Rafale Marine are scheduled to begin around May 2028, approximately 37 months after the contract signing, with completion expected between 2029 and 2031. (Picture source: French Navy)
This contract follows the Indian Navy’s selection of the Rafale Marine in July 2023 after an evaluation process against Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Trials conducted at India’s Shore-Based Test Facility (SBTF) at INS Hansa in Goa assessed the suitability of both aircraft for operations from Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) configured carriers. The Rafale Marine was selected based on these trials. The aircraft will be deployed on India’s aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, replacing the aging MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB fleets, which have been affected by serviceability issues, maintenance challenges, and operational limitations since induction.
The contract stipulates that four Rafale B twin-seat aircraft will be used exclusively for advanced land-based training, as they are not capable of carrier operations. Deliveries of the Rafale Marine are scheduled to begin around May 2028, approximately 37 months after the contract signing, with completion expected between 2029 and 2031. French Navy Rafale M aircraft are expected to be made available temporarily for Indian Navy pilot training before the new aircraft are delivered. Modifications to the Rafale’s wingtips are reportedly planned to allow the aircraft to fit into the elevators of INS Vikrant, which were originally designed for the MiG-29K and the LCA Navy aircraft.
The acquisition package includes the Meteor long-range air-to-air missile, capable of engaging targets beyond 150 kilometers, and the Exocet AM39 Block 2 Mod 2 anti-ship missile, designed for maritime strikes. The agreement also provides for indigenous weapon integration, notably the Astra Mk1 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile and the Rudram anti-radiation missile, aligning with India’s ‘Make in India’ policy. Additionally, Dassault Aviation is considering establishing a final assembly line in India to meet growing domestic and export orders, consistent with efforts to strengthen India’s defense manufacturing capabilities.
This contract follows the Indian Navy’s selection of the Rafale Marine in July 2023 after an evaluation process against Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. (Picture source: French Navy)
The Rafale Marine is based on the Rafale fighter designed by Dassault Aviation. It incorporates a reinforced airframe, specialized arrestor hook, and landing gear adapted for carrier operations. It is equipped with the Thales RBE2 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for multi-target tracking, and the SPECTRA electronic warfare suite developed by Thales and MBDA, providing radar warning, electronic jamming, and infrared countermeasure capabilities. The Rafale Marine is capable of landing within 105 meters and taking off within 112 meters, making it compatible with the deck configurations of India’s aircraft carriers.
Recent testing of the Rafale M equipped with the NARANG (Nacelle de Ravitaillement Nouvelle Génération) aerial refueling pod developed by Safran demonstrated its ability to perform mid-air refueling of slower aircraft such as the Airbus A400M, simulating the speeds of an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. The NARANG pod, capable of transferring fuel at rates between 750 and 1,000 liters per minute, enhances the Rafale M’s capability for buddy refueling missions.
The defense cooperation between India and France also extends to the naval sector. India plans to acquire three additional Scorpène-class submarines, building on the existing Project 75 program in which six submarines were built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in collaboration with Naval Group. The new submarines are expected to include a higher proportion of indigenous components. The Scorpène submarines are equipped with MESMA air-independent propulsion systems and feature six 533 mm torpedo tubes capable of deploying heavy torpedoes, SM39 Exocet missiles, or mines, with detection and defense systems integrated through SUBTICS and Thales S-Cube sonar suites.
The Rafale Marine is a navalized variant of the Rafale, incorporating a reinforced airframe, specialized arrestor hook, and landing gear adapted for carrier operations. (Picture source: French Navy)
Dassault Aviation is increasing its production capacity to meet growing demands, including India’s expected Rafale requirements. The company transitioned from delivering two Rafales per month to three and aims to reach four, with potential for five depending on future orders. Deliveries rose from 13 aircraft in 2023 to 21 in 2024, with a target of 25 deliveries for 2025. Dassault’s current order backlog stands at 230 Rafales, including 164 for export customers and 56 for the French Air and Space Force. In 2024, Dassault secured €8.3 billion in military contracts, up from €6.5 billion in 2023, contributing to a total backlog of €43.2 billion.
Dassault is also addressing supply chain limitations, which remain a constraint following the pandemic. A new facility was opened in Cergy-Pontoise, and additional expansions are under consideration. CEO Éric Trappier indicated that each incremental increase in production rate requires about two years. The company is also monitoring developments regarding potential U.S. tariffs on imported aircraft that could affect sales of Falcon business jets, which account for one-third of Dassault’s Falcon deliveries. Meanwhile, India’s ambition to enhance its operational independence is supported by plans to locally manufacture components, including critical spares for Rafale and Mirage 2000 fleets through a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility to be established in Uttar Pradesh.
The Indian Navy’s procurement of the Rafale Marine is seen as an interim solution to meet operational requirements while India continues developing the indigenous Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF), projected to become operational by 2031. Meanwhile, the MiG-29K fleet is undergoing upgrades, integrating weapons such as the Astra Mk-I and Mk-II, NASM-MR, Kh-35E, Rudram-2, Rampage, and ODAB-500PMV munitions, and is expected to receive the Uttam AESA radar. To date, the Indian Navy’s MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB aircraft, acquired from Russia between 2004 and 2010, have served as the primary carrier-based fighters aboard INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. Despite their advanced design, these aircraft have encountered persistent challenges, including low serviceability rates, technical issues with engines and airframes, and maintenance difficulties exacerbated by the need for repairs after each deck landing.
The Indian Navy’s procurement of the Rafale Marine is seen as an interim solution to meet operational requirements while India continues developing the indigenous Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF), projected to become operational by 2031. (Picture source: French Navy)
The history of India’s Rafale acquisition began with the 2016 contract for 36 Rafale jets for the IAF, worth approximately €7.8 billion. Deliveries were completed by 2022. These aircraft, divided into Rafale EH single-seat and Rafale DH twin-seat variants, were configured to the F3-R standard and included Meteor and MICA missiles, SCALP cruise missiles, and comprehensive support packages. The performance and integration of the Rafale into the IAF’s operational structure contributed to the Indian Navy’s decision to procure the Rafale Marine variant for carrier operations.
Dassault Aviation’s Rafale, developed independently after France withdrew from the multinational Future European Fighter Aircraft program, first flew as a technology demonstrator in 1986. The Rafale entered operational service with the French Navy in 2001. The Rafale Marine variant features modifications for carrier operations but retains about 95% commonality with the land-based versions operated by the French Air and Space Force. The Rafale family has accumulated more than 300 international sales to Egypt, Qatar, India, Greece, Croatia, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and Serbia.
The Indian Navy’s MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB are carrier-based multirole fighters developed by Russia’s Mikoyan Design Bureau, derived from the MiG-29M and tailored for naval operations. The MiG-29K (single-seat) and MiG-29KUB (two-seat) feature reinforced airframes, folding wings, arrestor hooks, and corrosion-resistant materials suitable for maritime environments. They are powered by RD-33MK engines and equipped with advanced avionics, including the Zhuk-ME radar and a digital fly-by-wire system. The aircraft can carry a diverse array of weaponry across 13 hardpoints, supporting air-to-air missiles like the R-73E and R-77RVV-AE, as well as air-to-surface munitions such as the Kh-31A/P and KAB-500KR. India initially ordered 16 aircraft (12 MiG-29K and 4 MiG-29KUB) in 2004, followed by an additional 29 in 2010, totaling 45 units. However, operational limitations have impacted the Indian Navy’s readiness and prompted the decision to replace them with these 26 French Rafale Marine jets.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
On April 28, 2025, Dassault Aviation announced that India and France signed the Inter-Governmental Agreement enabling the acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for the Indian Navy. The contract was signed in Saint-Cloud, France, in the presence of Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Éric Trappier. The agreement, valued at approximately $7.5 to $7.6 billion (€7 billion or ₹63,000 crore), includes the delivery of 22 Rafale Marine single-seat fighters and 4 Rafale B twin-seat trainers, as well as weapons packages, performance-based logistics (PBL) support, maintenance, simulators, ancillary equipment, personnel training, and updates for the 36 Rafale aircraft already operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF). It also covers offset obligations requiring the local manufacturing of components and equipment in India.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Deliveries of the Rafale Marine are scheduled to begin around May 2028, approximately 37 months after the contract signing, with completion expected between 2029 and 2031. (Picture source: French Navy)
This contract follows the Indian Navy’s selection of the Rafale Marine in July 2023 after an evaluation process against Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Trials conducted at India’s Shore-Based Test Facility (SBTF) at INS Hansa in Goa assessed the suitability of both aircraft for operations from Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) configured carriers. The Rafale Marine was selected based on these trials. The aircraft will be deployed on India’s aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, replacing the aging MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB fleets, which have been affected by serviceability issues, maintenance challenges, and operational limitations since induction.
The contract stipulates that four Rafale B twin-seat aircraft will be used exclusively for advanced land-based training, as they are not capable of carrier operations. Deliveries of the Rafale Marine are scheduled to begin around May 2028, approximately 37 months after the contract signing, with completion expected between 2029 and 2031. French Navy Rafale M aircraft are expected to be made available temporarily for Indian Navy pilot training before the new aircraft are delivered. Modifications to the Rafale’s wingtips are reportedly planned to allow the aircraft to fit into the elevators of INS Vikrant, which were originally designed for the MiG-29K and the LCA Navy aircraft.
The acquisition package includes the Meteor long-range air-to-air missile, capable of engaging targets beyond 150 kilometers, and the Exocet AM39 Block 2 Mod 2 anti-ship missile, designed for maritime strikes. The agreement also provides for indigenous weapon integration, notably the Astra Mk1 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile and the Rudram anti-radiation missile, aligning with India’s ‘Make in India’ policy. Additionally, Dassault Aviation is considering establishing a final assembly line in India to meet growing domestic and export orders, consistent with efforts to strengthen India’s defense manufacturing capabilities.
This contract follows the Indian Navy’s selection of the Rafale Marine in July 2023 after an evaluation process against Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. (Picture source: French Navy)
The Rafale Marine is based on the Rafale fighter designed by Dassault Aviation. It incorporates a reinforced airframe, specialized arrestor hook, and landing gear adapted for carrier operations. It is equipped with the Thales RBE2 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for multi-target tracking, and the SPECTRA electronic warfare suite developed by Thales and MBDA, providing radar warning, electronic jamming, and infrared countermeasure capabilities. The Rafale Marine is capable of landing within 105 meters and taking off within 112 meters, making it compatible with the deck configurations of India’s aircraft carriers.
Recent testing of the Rafale M equipped with the NARANG (Nacelle de Ravitaillement Nouvelle Génération) aerial refueling pod developed by Safran demonstrated its ability to perform mid-air refueling of slower aircraft such as the Airbus A400M, simulating the speeds of an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. The NARANG pod, capable of transferring fuel at rates between 750 and 1,000 liters per minute, enhances the Rafale M’s capability for buddy refueling missions.
The defense cooperation between India and France also extends to the naval sector. India plans to acquire three additional Scorpène-class submarines, building on the existing Project 75 program in which six submarines were built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in collaboration with Naval Group. The new submarines are expected to include a higher proportion of indigenous components. The Scorpène submarines are equipped with MESMA air-independent propulsion systems and feature six 533 mm torpedo tubes capable of deploying heavy torpedoes, SM39 Exocet missiles, or mines, with detection and defense systems integrated through SUBTICS and Thales S-Cube sonar suites.
The Rafale Marine is a navalized variant of the Rafale, incorporating a reinforced airframe, specialized arrestor hook, and landing gear adapted for carrier operations. (Picture source: French Navy)
Dassault Aviation is increasing its production capacity to meet growing demands, including India’s expected Rafale requirements. The company transitioned from delivering two Rafales per month to three and aims to reach four, with potential for five depending on future orders. Deliveries rose from 13 aircraft in 2023 to 21 in 2024, with a target of 25 deliveries for 2025. Dassault’s current order backlog stands at 230 Rafales, including 164 for export customers and 56 for the French Air and Space Force. In 2024, Dassault secured €8.3 billion in military contracts, up from €6.5 billion in 2023, contributing to a total backlog of €43.2 billion.
Dassault is also addressing supply chain limitations, which remain a constraint following the pandemic. A new facility was opened in Cergy-Pontoise, and additional expansions are under consideration. CEO Éric Trappier indicated that each incremental increase in production rate requires about two years. The company is also monitoring developments regarding potential U.S. tariffs on imported aircraft that could affect sales of Falcon business jets, which account for one-third of Dassault’s Falcon deliveries. Meanwhile, India’s ambition to enhance its operational independence is supported by plans to locally manufacture components, including critical spares for Rafale and Mirage 2000 fleets through a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility to be established in Uttar Pradesh.
The Indian Navy’s procurement of the Rafale Marine is seen as an interim solution to meet operational requirements while India continues developing the indigenous Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF), projected to become operational by 2031. Meanwhile, the MiG-29K fleet is undergoing upgrades, integrating weapons such as the Astra Mk-I and Mk-II, NASM-MR, Kh-35E, Rudram-2, Rampage, and ODAB-500PMV munitions, and is expected to receive the Uttam AESA radar. To date, the Indian Navy’s MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB aircraft, acquired from Russia between 2004 and 2010, have served as the primary carrier-based fighters aboard INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. Despite their advanced design, these aircraft have encountered persistent challenges, including low serviceability rates, technical issues with engines and airframes, and maintenance difficulties exacerbated by the need for repairs after each deck landing.
The Indian Navy’s procurement of the Rafale Marine is seen as an interim solution to meet operational requirements while India continues developing the indigenous Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF), projected to become operational by 2031. (Picture source: French Navy)
The history of India’s Rafale acquisition began with the 2016 contract for 36 Rafale jets for the IAF, worth approximately €7.8 billion. Deliveries were completed by 2022. These aircraft, divided into Rafale EH single-seat and Rafale DH twin-seat variants, were configured to the F3-R standard and included Meteor and MICA missiles, SCALP cruise missiles, and comprehensive support packages. The performance and integration of the Rafale into the IAF’s operational structure contributed to the Indian Navy’s decision to procure the Rafale Marine variant for carrier operations.
Dassault Aviation’s Rafale, developed independently after France withdrew from the multinational Future European Fighter Aircraft program, first flew as a technology demonstrator in 1986. The Rafale entered operational service with the French Navy in 2001. The Rafale Marine variant features modifications for carrier operations but retains about 95% commonality with the land-based versions operated by the French Air and Space Force. The Rafale family has accumulated more than 300 international sales to Egypt, Qatar, India, Greece, Croatia, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and Serbia.
The Indian Navy’s MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB are carrier-based multirole fighters developed by Russia’s Mikoyan Design Bureau, derived from the MiG-29M and tailored for naval operations. The MiG-29K (single-seat) and MiG-29KUB (two-seat) feature reinforced airframes, folding wings, arrestor hooks, and corrosion-resistant materials suitable for maritime environments. They are powered by RD-33MK engines and equipped with advanced avionics, including the Zhuk-ME radar and a digital fly-by-wire system. The aircraft can carry a diverse array of weaponry across 13 hardpoints, supporting air-to-air missiles like the R-73E and R-77RVV-AE, as well as air-to-surface munitions such as the Kh-31A/P and KAB-500KR. India initially ordered 16 aircraft (12 MiG-29K and 4 MiG-29KUB) in 2004, followed by an additional 29 in 2010, totaling 45 units. However, operational limitations have impacted the Indian Navy’s readiness and prompted the decision to replace them with these 26 French Rafale Marine jets.
