Marine Rafale Contract with India by Year End: French Media

Dassault Aviation expects to sign a contract with India for the sale of 26 marine Rafale jets by this year end for use on the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier.

"I think we can expect another contract (for Rafale) before the end of the year. I hope so ," CEO of Dassault Aviation, Eric Trappier was quoted as saying on Europe 1 TV channel on August 31, just two days after the contract was signed in Serbia for 12 Rafale jets.

Eric Trappier, did not mention the country in question but the only potential contract on the horizon is the one with the Indian Navy. Dassault’s selection by the Indian Navy was announced in July 2023.

The French aircraft manufacturer and its partners (Thales and Safran) have finalized discussions with New Delhi for the sale of 26 Rafale Marine, sources told La Tribune. The team has mastered the technology of a titanium reinforced landing gear to meet the conditions of landing and take-off on the aircraft carrier deck.

However, while the aircraft negotiations have reportedly been finalized, Dassault Aviation must still wait for the end of negotiations between MBDA, and the Indian MoD for the supply of missiles to the Marine Rafale.

In this transaction with the Indian authorities, it is possible that France will sell one or two second-hand Marine Rafale among the 26 units. They could be used to train pilots for the Indian Navy. In addition, this contract could also allow the French Navy, which has three Rafale flotillas (36 aircraft out of a fleet of 41) to order new aircraft to replace the first Rafale Marines that entered service in 2002 as well as the four that crashed.