India to ink ₹63,000 cr deal with France for 26 Rafale marine jets

India and France are set to finalize a landmark ₹63,000 crore deal for the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine combat aircraft, significantly boosting India’s naval air power. 

According to reports, representatives from the Indian Defence Ministry and the French Embassy in India will formally sign the agreement. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh is expected to represent the Indian side during the signing ceremony.

Along with this major government-to-government agreement, several ancillary government-to-business contracts are also expected to be physically signed during the event, further strengthening the strategic defence partnership between the two nations.

The urgent requirement for the Rafale Marine jets arises from the operational needs of India's aircraft carriers, particularly the INS Vikrant, which was recently inducted into active service. The current fleet of MiG-29K fighters has reportedly faced performance challenges, mainly due to high maintenance demands and operational limitations.

The Rafale Marine jets will be specially customized to meet Indian Navy specifications and will be seamlessly integrated with INS Vikrant’s systems.

The contract includes 22 single-seater and 4 twin-seater aircraft, along with a comprehensive package covering fleet maintenance, logistical support, personnel training, and indigenous component manufacturing to promote make-in-India initiatives.