India clears Rs 63,000-crore deal to purchase 26 Rafale jets from France: Sources

India has confirmed a major government-to-government settlement with France to purchase 26 Rafale Marine fighter plane, a deal valued at over Rs 63,000 crore. The Cupboard Committee on Safety, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has authorised the deal, which is anticipated to be formalised shortly. 

Defence sources advised India At this time TV on Wednesday that this procurement contains 22 single-seater and 4 twin-seater variants, full with fleet upkeep, logistical assist, and personnel coaching packages, in addition to indigenous manufacturing elements beneath offset obligations.

The Rafale Marine jets are meant for deployment on India’s indigenous plane carriers and can considerably improve the Navy’s air energy at sea. The Rafale Marine, a carrier-based model of the combat-proven Rafale fighter, is thought for its superior avionics, weapon methods, and operational versatility.

Deliveries of the Rafale Marine fighter jets are projected to begin in round 4 years, with the Navy anticipated to obtain the primary batch by late 2029, and the complete fleet seemingly to be inducted by 2031. Sources stated these plane will substitute the ageing MiG-29K fleet, working from India’s plane carriers, INS Vikramaditya and the indigenous INS Vikrant.

This strategic acquisition is being processed via the inter-governmental route, guaranteeing expedited supply timelines and warranted upkeep assist from the French producer Dassault Aviation. The Rafale M is engineered for carrier-based missions, that includes bolstered touchdown gear, arrestor hooks, and a strengthened airframe to execute Quick Take-Off However Arrested Restoration (STOBAR) operations—a method used to launch and recuperate plane on naval carriers. Because the Indian Navy continues to modernise, this acquisition aligns with its long-term strategic objectives.

As well as to the Rafale-M deal, India is ready to bolster its underwater fight capabilities by developing three extra Scorpene-class submarines beneath Mission-75. These submarines shall be in-built partnership with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Restricted and France’s Naval Group. In the meantime, different key naval procurement tasks are progressing as anticipated, highlighting India’s concentrate on strengthening its maritime defence capabilities.