India and France Seal Record Defence Deal

Rafale Marine Secures Its First Export Order

Overview

India and France have perfected their largest-ever defence consensus, which also marks the first import order for the French nonmilitary fighter, the Rafale Marine (Rafale M).

The signing of the deal was originally listed during the stay of French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu to India on April 28. Still, following the holdback of his stay, elderly officers from both countries homogenized the consensus. Appraised at roughly ₹63,000 crore (around $7.5 billion), the package includes munitions, redundant corridor, conservation brace, and pitches for the 36 Rafale spurts presently operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Strengthening the Indian Navy's Carrier Fighter Fleet

For several times, the Indian Navy has been seeking to enhance its carrier-borne fighter capabilities, which directly calculate on the Russian-erected MiG-29K. In 2017, the Navy issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the accession of 57 Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters (MRCBF). Still, this demand was latterly refashioned to 26 aircraft.

After rigid trials, two campaigners surfaced: Boeing’s F/A-18E Super Hornet and Dassault’s Rafale M. In January 2022, the Rafale M passed testing at the Indian Navy’s Shore-Grounded Test Installation (SBTF) at INS Hansa in Goa. French Navy aviators successfully demonstrated ski-jump take-offs and enchanted levees on a simulated STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Enchanted Reclamation) sundeck. Also, Boeing showcased the Super Hornet’s ski-jump capability at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in the U.S. in 2020, followed by trials at India's SBTF in mid-2022.

Despite close competition, reports constantly indicated that the Rafale M had an advantage. In July 2023, Dassault Aviation officially blazoned that the Indian Navy had named the Rafale M for its carrier missions.

Deployment and Future Plans

The Indian Navy's order of 26 Rafales will round the IAF’s 36 Rafale line, making India the first country besides France to operate both the Air Force and Naval variants of Rafale fighters. Deliveries are anticipated to embark by 2028–29 and be completed by 2030. An India-special Rafale M prototype is awaited to be showcased within the coming 18 months.

Out of the 26 spurts, four will be binary-seat coach variants (DH models), primarily operating from land bases due to the absence of a carrier-able binary-seat Rafale. The remaining 22 single-seat fighters will be stationed aboard India’s indigenously erected aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. To accommodate these fighters on the compact elevators of INS Vikrant, variations to the Rafale's sect tips are reportedly being made.

Presently, the Navy’s MiG-29K line operates from both INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, but the aircraft have faced multitudinous functional expostulations, involving specialized effects, bird strikes, and penurious utility classes.

Pitches and Autochthonous Sweats

Despite patient cases, the Navy has continuously worked out to enhance the MiG-29K line. The aircraft are being seasoned with improved munitions similar as Astra Mk-I, Astra Mk-II, RVV-AE, R-73E air-to-air dumdums, NASM-MR and Kh-35E anti-ship dumdums, along with strike munitions like Rudram-2, Rage, and ODAB-500PMV losers. Sweats are underway to incorporate autochthonous systems like the Uttam AESA radar and to localize overcritical avionics and redundant corridor.

While the Rafale Marine will boost the Navy's combat capabilities in the medium tenure, India is also coursing a future autochthonous design — the fellow-Machine Sundeck Grounded Fighter (TEDBF). Although the TEDBF design is still anticipating sanctioned permission, primary project work is growing. The TEDBF is anticipated to evolve from the 4.5-generation project showcased at Aero India 2023 and 2025, potentially giving away ascent to a fifth-generation nonmilitary fighter, akin to the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) being developed for the IAF.

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force also plans to land fresh Rafales to farther contemporize its line.

Sanctioned Statements

In a press release, Dassault Aviation stated:

"The Rafale Marine will deliver slice-bite capabilities to the Indian Armed manpowers. The Indian Navy will profit significantly from the French Navy’s functional experience with this fighter. Alongside the 36 Rafales formerly serving in the Indian Air Force, the Rafale Marine will play a crucial part in securing public sovereignty and strengthening India’s situation as a global authority."

Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO, Éric Trappier, appended:

"On behalf of Dassault Aviation and our mates, I unfeignedly thank the Indian authorities for their trust over further than 70 times of cooperation. We're completely immured to supporting India's strategic intentions and unreality for the future."

The Indian Ministry of Defence also released a statement:

"The Governments of India and France have inked an Inter-Governmental consensus (IGA) for the accession of 26 Rafale aircraft (22 single-seat and 4 binary-seat performances) for the Indian Navy. The package includes training, simulators, associated outfit, munitions, and interpretation-Grounded Logistics brace."

"Aligned with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ action, the deal incorporates Transfer of Technology (ToT) for integrating autochthonous munitions systems. It also includes the establishment of manufacturing and conservation, form, and Overhaul (MRO) installations for the Rafale fuselage, machines, detectors, and munitions in India — anticipated to produce thousands of jobs and openings for MSMEs."