- | 4:30 pm
India okays purchase of 26 French Rafale jets in $7.3 billion deal
The acquisition includes 22 single-seater and four twin-seater jets, along with associated weapon systems, spares, and other ancillary equipment supplied by Dassault Aviation
India’s cabinet committee on security (CCS) has okayed a government-to-government deal with France to acquire 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for the Indian Navy, in a contract valued at over Rs63,000 crore (about $7.3 billion).
The formal agreement is expected to be signed later this month during the visit of French defense minister Sébastien Lecornu.
The contract will be executed under an inter-governmental framework, and the delivery of the aircraft is reportedly expected to start between 37-65 months after signing.
All jets are expected to be delivered by 2030-31, news agency Asian News International (ANI) reported.
The acquisition includes 22 single-seater and four twin-seater jets, along with associated weapon systems, spares, and other ancillary equipment supplied by Dassault Aviation.
The Rafale Marine fighters will be deployed on INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, and will operate alongside the existing MiG-29K fleet.
The package also covers fleet maintenance, personnel training, logistical support, and indigenous manufacturing components under offset obligations.
The deal is expected to improve India’s naval air power and maritime security.
A provision for five years of performance-based logistics support and spares is also included, covering the 36 Rafale jets previously acquired for the Indian Air Force in a Rs59,000-crore deal signed in 2016.
The new Rafale Marine fighters will reportedly upgrade the Indian Air Force’s aerial refueling capability through the “buddy-buddy” system, which allows up to 10 Rafale jets to refuel each other mid-air.
Integration between the IAF and Navy fleets may be supported by ground-based equipment and software upgrades.
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