On April 28, India and France signed a mega Rs 63,000 crore deal to buy 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for the Indian Navy. Through this deal, India will acquire 25 Rafale-Marine (Rafale-M) warplanes for the Navy. The deal will be of around Rs 63,000 crore.
The Intergovernmental agreement was exchanged between the two sides in the presence of Defence Secretary RK Singh and Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral K Swaminathan.
Today, India and France signed a mega Rs 63,000 crore deal to buy 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for the Indian Navy. The Indian side was represented by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, where Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral K Swaminathan was present
— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2025
(Video source: Indian Navy… pic.twitter.com/5W6SdwcuD8
Details Of The Deal
In early April, the Cabinet Committee on Security under Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the agreement. The agreement includes twenty-two single-seat Rafale-M combat aircraft designed to use aircraft carriers, together with four twin-seat training aircraft that lack carrier operations.
#WATCH | Delhi | The Intergovernmental agreement was exchanged between the two sides in the presence of Defence Secretary RK Singh and Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral K Swaminathan.
— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2025
(Source: Indian Navy) https://t.co/6Z4UhJ4ypY pic.twitter.com/R3Z0o9RAuA
According to media reports, the deliveries of the jets will be made between 2028 and 2029. The jets are expected to be inducted by 2032.
The Rafale-M package includes various components, including weapons systems as well as supplies and training services with associated logistical equipment. The purchase of these defense systems will occur through an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) framework.
Transition For The Indian Navy
Rafale-M deal comes at a perfect time since the Navy requires replacement of aging MiG-29K aircraft during a specific period. The Indian Navy plans to utilize newly developed aircraft for launching operations from INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant before the production of the indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF).
Competition And Selection
The Rafale-M was in direct competition with Boeing’s F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet. While both jets met the Indian Navy’s operational requirements, the Rafale-M offered logistical advantages due to its shared maintenance and support systems with the Indian Air Force’s existing Rafale fleet.
Strategic Defence Cooperation
The decision represents a growing Indo-French defence partnership that promotes joint development and production of military systems in line with India’s self-reliance drive.
