On Monday, India and France signed a landmark ₹63,000 crore government-to-government contract for the acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine combat aircraft.
Officials formalised the deal at the Defence Ministry headquarters at South Block, New Delhi.
The signing follows the clearance given earlier this month by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh represented the Indian side, while the French Ambassador to India signed on behalf of France.
The Defence Ministers of both nations joined the ceremony remotely.
The French Defence Minister, originally scheduled to attend in person, cancelled due to personal reasons.
The Indian Navy has been in urgent need of new fighter jets, as the existing MiG-29K fleet has faced maintenance and operational challenges.
The Rafale Marine jets are set to operate from India’s indigenously built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, ensuring a significant boost to the Navy’s maritime air power.
The contract includes the delivery of 22 single-seater and four twin-seater Rafale M aircraft, all tailored for carrier-based operations to suit Indian Navy requirements.
Beyond the aircraft themselves, the deal also includes an extensive package for maintenance, logistics, training, and the local manufacturing of certain components, further supporting India’s push towards defence indigenisation.
The Indian Navy will use the Rafale M aircraft as a stopgap measure to maintain uninterrupted operational strength until India completes its Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) project.
India already operates a fleet of 36 Rafale fighter jets under a separate agreement signed in 2016, stationed at Ambala and Hasimara airbases.
With the addition of 26 Rafale M aircraft, India’s total Rafale fleet will rise to 62, significantly strengthening the nation’s 4.5-generation fighter aircraft inventory.
This major defence deal underscores the growing strategic partnership between India and France, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
It reflects India’s commitment to modernising its armed forces and enhancing maritime security amidst evolving regional challenges.
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