Rafale-M deal signed, Indian Navy to get 26 fighter jets for Rs 63,000 cr

India and France signed a Rs 63,000 crore deal for new Rafale M fighter jets on Monday (April 27) during a meeting between senior officials from the defence ministry and the French Ambassador to India in the national capital.

This significant agreement, which involves the purchase of 26 marine versions of the Rafale fighters directly from France, received approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earlier this month.

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

(Video source: Indian Navy… pic.twitter.com/5W6SdwcuD8

— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2025

The Navy selected the combat aircraft after a competitive evaluation that included the American Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet. The Rafale was determined to be more suitable for India’s requirements and offers the added benefit of compatibility with the Indian Air Force’s existing fleet of 36 fighter jets.

These jets will be equipped with advanced weapon systems, including long-range air-to-air missiles, anti-ship weapons, and electronic warfare capabilities. Although the deal does not require manufacturing the aircraft in India, French companies involved in the Rafale program, such as Dassault, Thales, and MBDA, are expected to collaborate with Indian partners to produce components and subsystems locally.

The need for these fighter jets is urgent, as two Indian aircraft carriers—INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant—are now operational. The current fleet of MiG-29K fighters has encountered maintenance-related issues, resulting in subpar performance.

With inputs from agencies