India approves Rs 63,000 Cr deal for 26 rafale jets for Navy

The Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has greenlit a ₹63,000 crore acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine (Rafale-M) fighter jets from France for the Indian Navy, senior officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The government-to-government agreement with France includes 22 single-seat jets and 4 twin-seaters tailored for carrier-based operations, strengthening India’s naval air power amid growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific, especially with China’s assertive posture in the region.

Manufactured by Dassault Aviation, the Rafale-Ms will come equipped with weapons packages, spares, simulators, training modules, logistics support, and other critical systems. Deliveries are expected to begin 37 months after the contract is finalized—likely in the coming weeks—and will be completed by 2030-31.

This new deal complements the earlier ₹59,000 crore agreement signed in 2016 for 36 Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force. These aircraft currently serve in two squadrons: one at Ambala (Haryana) and the other at Hasimara (West Bengal), near the China border, enhancing India’s operational readiness on both eastern and western fronts.

Officials said the procurement will also bolster logistics support and spare parts supply for the IAF’s Rafales, ensuring better interoperability across services.

The Rafale-M is engineered for the challenges of maritime operations, including corrosion resistance and carrier-deck landings. It is already operational on the French Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, had previously cleared the Navy's proposal in line with established procurement procedures. Officials highlighted the advantage of commonality between the Navy’s and Air Force’s Rafale fleets, especially in areas like training, maintenance, and logistics.