India Set to Finalise ₹63,000-Crore Rafale M Deal for Navy Upgrade
India is on the verge of securing a significant ₹63,000-crore agreement with France for 26 Rafale M fighter jets tailored for naval operations, according to official sources. The deal, spearheaded by the Ministry of Defence, is expected to receive clearance soon from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The intergovernmental contract will see the delivery of 22 single-seater and four twin-seater Rafale M aircraft, along with a robust support package covering fleet maintenance, logistics, training, and offset obligations that promote local production. Training modules for Indian Navy personnel are also part of the deal.
Deliveries are slated to begin around four years after the contract is inked. The Indian Navy is expected to receive the first jets by late 2029, with the complete fleet arriving by 2031.
These aircraft will replace the ageing MiG-29K fleet and will operate from India’s aircraft carriers—INS Vikramaditya and the indigenous INS Vikrant. The Rafale M is specially designed for carrier-based operations, featuring reinforced landing gear, arrestor hooks, and structural modifications to support Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) procedures.
The jets are equipped with advanced weaponry, including Meteor air-to-air missiles, Exocet anti-ship missiles, and the long-range SCALP cruise missile. They also boast an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and the Spectra electronic warfare suite, enhancing stealth, survivability, and electronic defenses. Capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 1.8, the aircraft have a combat radius of over 1,850 km and support mid-air refuelling for extended missions.
In addition to the Rafale M deal, India is also moving forward with the construction of three additional Scorpene-class submarines under Project-75. This initiative, undertaken with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and France’s Naval Group, aims to strengthen India’s submarine fleet and reinforce its long-term maritime defense strategy.