Deal to Buy Marine Rafale Jets Likely During Macron's India Visit: French Media

French Rafale combat jet’s marine variant is next on India's shopping list, and this deal is likely to be made public during French President's visit to the country in March.

The Rafale-M was pitted against Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and both jets were evaluated by the Indian Navy last year. The chosen jet will replace the country’s ageing 43-strong MiG-29K fleet.

As per French media, the Indian Navy has already chosen Rafale-M. A formal announcement will be made when President Emmanuel Macron visits New Delhi three months from now.

Dassault Aviation, the maker of Rafale, is confident that Rafale-M will be suitable for the Navy’s new 40,000-ton carrier INS Vikrant (Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1).

Rafale and F-18 are both fit for aircraft carriers equipped with CATOBARs system. Indian Navy’s INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya are STOBAR aircraft carriers.

The Rafale-M is designed to operate from the French Navy’s nuclear-powered Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier which is configured with catapult launch gear. It is also the only non-U.S. fighter cleared to operate from U.S. carriers.

India already has a Rafale maintenance and flight training center at Ambala Air Force Station in Haryana.