India is poised to sign a massive ₹63,000 crore (approximately $7.56 billion) government-to-government deal with France for the acquisition of 26 Rafale-Marine (Rafale-M) fighter jets. This deal, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) earlier this month, marks a significant boost to the Indian Navy’s carrier-based air power and maritime dominance in the Indian Ocean region.
The Rafale-M jets, designed specifically for naval operations, will operate from India’s aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, providing a critical upgrade over the aging Russian-origin MiG-29K fleet. The contract includes 22 single-seater carrier-capable jets and 4 twin-seater trainer jets, along with an extensive package of weapons, simulators, crew training, spares, and five years of performance-based logistics support.
This acquisition is an interim but decisive step until India’s indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF), currently under development by the Aeronautical Development Agency and DRDO, becomes operational-which is expected to take nearly a decade. Meanwhile, the Rafale-M jets will ensure the Indian Navy maintains a credible and cutting-edge carrier air wing capable of power projection and rapid response.
The deal will be signed remotely by the Defence Ministers of India and France, with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and French Ambassador Thierry Mathou presiding over the ceremony in New Delhi. Alongside the main contract, several government-to-business agreements with French defence firms will be finalized to support the acquisition.
Strategically, this deal is a bold statement amid rising security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, especially with increasing Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean. The Rafale-M’s advanced avionics, long-range anti-ship weapons, and compatibility with India’s STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) carriers will significantly enhance India’s maritime deterrence and operational reach.
The signing of this deal coincides with India’s heightened security posture following recent terror attacks and ongoing regional tensions. Defence experts and officials eagerly await Exercise Aakraman-an Indian military exercise symbolizing offensive readiness-to evolve into Operation Aakraman, reflecting India’s resolve to defend its sovereignty with unmatched strength.
