India Clears $7.4B deal for 26 Rafale-Marine Jets

India’s Cabinet Committee on Security has approved a nearly INR 64,000 crore ($7.4 billion) government-to-government deal with France for 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets to be deployed on aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

The contract is expected to be signed within days, reports claim. The package includes 22 single-seat Rafale-M jets and four twin-seat trainers, along with weapon systems, simulators, crew training, and a five-year performance-based logistics support plan.

This procurement follows the Indian Navy’s selection of the Rafale Marine over the U.S.-made Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet in a direct contest. While both aircraft are compatible with CATOBAR systems used by Western navies, India’s carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya use the STOBAR configuration. Despite this, the Rafale-M proved compatible during trials and was preferred.

The twin-engine Rafale-M will replace the Navy’s aging MiG-29K fleet. As part of the deal, the first aircraft will be delivered 37 months after contract signing. Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer, is also required to showcase a Rafale-M with Indian-specific modifications within 18 months.

The contract also includes upgrades, equipment, and spares for the 36 Rafale jets already inducted by the Indian Air Force under a separate INR 59,000 crore (around $8.8 billion when inked) deal signed in 2016.

The Rafale-M is designed for carrier operations, capable of launching with heavy payloads and recovering safely in high-stress maritime conditions. It can carry up to 9.5 tonnes of weapons, fuel tanks, and pods across 13 hardpoints. It also includes onboard refinements like a head-up display with carrier approach symbology and power management systems to assist in arrested landings.

These French jets will serve as an interim solution while India develops its own carrier-based fighter — the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF). The TEDBF project, which has cleared inter-ministerial approval and is under review by the National Security Council Secretariat, is expected to fly its first prototype by 2026 and enter production by 2031.

The Navy had initially proposed a requirement for 145 TEDBFs, considering the prospect of operating three carriers in the future. However, Indian media have reported that defence planners have advised the Navy to project needs based on a two-carrier force for now, reducing the number to about 87.

In parallel, work continues on three prototypes of the Tejas Navy, with four out of 14 identified technologies for TEDBF already validated. These include critical features such as automatic take-off and landing systems, which the current Tejas Navy lacks.

How does the Rafale-M compare with China’s J-15 carrier jet? Click here to learn more.