The Prime Minister-led Cabinet Committee on Security has approved a major deal worth nearly Rs 64,000 crore (Euro 6.6 billion) with France for the direct purchase of 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets. These aircraft are intended to operate from the deck of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.
The government-to-government agreement covers 22 single-seat Rafale-M jets and four twin-seat trainers. This is in addition to weapons packages, simulators, crew training, and five years of performance-based logistics support, according to media reports quoting defence sources. According to sources, the deal is expected to be formally signed in the coming days.
India’s decision to procure Rafale fighter jets from France marks a major shift in its maritime air power strategy. This deal is indicative of a strategic pivot towards greater naval dominance, a deepening of Indo-French defence ties, and a long-term commitment to carrier-based air operations. India’s military aviation power has long been due for an upgrade. With this decision, India will equip its first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, with a potent strike capability and lay the groundwork for a future dominated by sea-based deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Why Rafale M Over the F/A-18 Super Hornet?
The contest to equip India’s new aircraft carrier was long and closely watched. In the final leg, the Rafale M – the naval variant of Dassault Aviation’s highly successful Rafale French fighter, edged out Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet. Both aircraft had been evaluated extensively by the Indian Navy for compatibility with INS Vikrant’s ski-jump assisted Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) configuration. Despite the F/A-18’s upgrades and carrier-tested legacy in the United States Navy, the Rafale M secured the upper hand. Some reports have indicated that this could be a silent protest against the recently renewed American tariffs. However, it is highly unlikely that India will bet its marine defence on diplomatic flex.
The reasons are layered. Firstly, commonality with the Indian Air Force’s existing fleet of 36 Rafale jets offered a logistical and maintenance advantage. This continuity reduces training complexity, simplifies the supply chain, and creates economies of scale. The jet Rafale demonstrated superior performance in simulated deck operations at INS Hansa in Goa, showcasing its ability to take off with a full weapons payload from a ski-jump ramp. It is an essential feature for operating from Vikrant’s deck.
Secondly, the French government’s consistent willingness to offer sovereign guarantees and the strong political relationship between New Delhi and Paris helped tilt the scales. In contrast, the US route often comes with end-use monitoring stipulations and greater political friction. India’s strategic desire to maintain autonomy in defence decisions played a part in favouring the Rafale French option.
Enhancing INS Vikrant’s Combat Capability
Commissioned in 2022, INS Vikrant represents India’s ambition to transform into a true blue-water navy. However, until now, the carrier lacked an advanced fighter complement capable of harnessing its full potential. The arrival of the Rafale M fighter jets will massively alter that equation.
The Rafale M is among the most advanced naval fighters in service today. It is a twin-engine, fourth-generation-plus jet, designed with a reinforced undercarriage, tailhook, and strengthened airframe for carrier operations. Its versatility across air superiority, ground attack, and reconnaissance missions makes it an ideal multi-role platform. The fighter Rafale can carry a range of precision-guided munitions, including the SCALP cruise missile and Meteor air-to-air missile, both of which are part of the IAF’s arsenal as well.
With a combat radius exceeding 1,000 km and the ability to refuel mid-air, the Rafale fighter plane gives the Indian Navy extended reach over the Indian Ocean. Its advanced radar, electronic warfare suite, and sensor fusion capabilities further provide a formidable edge in contested environments. When deployed on Vikrant, these aircraft will provide a genuine area-denial capability, deterring hostile naval and aerial threats far from India’s shores.
A Carrier-Centric Future
Instead of looking at this acquisition as an isolated event, we must look at it in the context of India’s broader naval aviation ambitions. With China rapidly expanding its carrier fleet and seeking influence across the Indian Ocean through military and port infrastructure, India is under pressure to respond in kind. The Rafale M deal is a clear signal of intent; India is ready to project power from the sea.
The Indian Navy has long pushed for a third aircraft carrier (IAC-2), envisioned as a 65,000-tonne CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) vessel, possibly equipped with electromagnetic launch systems. The induction of the Rafale M, which has also operated from CATOBAR platforms like the French Charles de Gaulle, would neatly dovetail into such future ambitions.
As indigenous projects like the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) remain in developmental stages, the Rafale plane offers a near-term solution that fills a critical operational gap. It provides breathing room for India to develop its own carrier-capable jets without compromising readiness.
Carrier-Based Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific
In the Indo-Pacific, aircraft carriers are floating airbases capable of sustained operations in distant waters. As territorial disputes intensify and maritime traffic through key chokepoints like the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea grows increasingly vulnerable, having a capable carrier strike group becomes essential.
By choosing the Rafale M, India adds a powerful arrow to its maritime quiver. These aircraft, when fully operational aboard Vikrant, will give India the ability to conduct sustained air operations far from its coastline. They can escort naval convoys, strike enemy vessels, conduct anti-submarine warfare missions, and enforce air superiority over contested waters. This is critical not just in a wartime scenario but also for grey-zone operations, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief missions.
Additionally, joint exercises with the French Navy, and eventually with other allies, could enhance operational interoperability and tactical integration. The Rafale M’s presence in both French and Indian services opens new doors for maritime security cooperation, training, and joint patrols, especially across the Western Indian Ocean and into the Africa-Asia maritime corridor.
Integration Challenges and the Road Ahead
While the potential of the Rafale M is undeniable, integration into India’s carrier ecosystem will not be without challenges. STOBAR launch dynamics place unique demands on aircraft performance, particularly during high payload missions. Although the Rafale M has proven its ability to operate from ski-jump decks during trials, adapting it for Indian Navy protocols and ensuring safe deck operations during monsoon months will take rigorous testing and fine-tuning.
The deal includes not just aircraft but simulators, spares, crew training, and a five-year performance-based logistics package. These elements are crucial. They represent a shift from simple acquisition to operational preparedness and sustainability. Unlike earlier times when aircraft were procured with minimal logistical backing, this contract builds in long-term operational efficiency, ensuring high availability rates for the fighter Rafale fleet.
Another element worth watching is how the new Rafale M squadrons will be organised. With only 26 aircraft on order, 22 single-seat jets and four twin-seat trainers, India will need to think carefully about deployment cycles, maintenance downtime, and training rotations. This number is adequate to equip Vikrant initially, but not sufficient to sustain long-duration dual-carrier operations should IAC-2 be commissioned in the next decade.
The Price of Power: Is It Worth It?
Debate has inevitably swirled around the Rafale aircraft cost. At nearly Rs 64,000 crore for 26 jets, critics have pointed out that the per-unit price is substantially higher than the IAF’s earlier Rafale deal. However, it is important to consider that naval aircraft are inherently more expensive due to the structural reinforcements, folding wings, arrestor hooks, and complex avionics needed for carrier operations.
The total package includes advanced weapons systems, spare engines, technical support, simulators, and infrastructure upgrades. The Rafale aircraft price, therefore, cannot be judged purely on a per-aircraft basis; it must be viewed in terms of the total capability it brings. The inclusion of maintenance support and performance-based logistics also offsets longer-term costs by reducing downtime and ensuring aircraft readiness.
When weighed against the strategic dividends, enhanced deterrence, force projection, interoperability with allies, and maritime security, the Rafale combat aircraft acquisition appears well justified. In today’s geopolitical climate, sea power is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity.
Beyond the Purchase
As regional rivalries deepen and maritime competition intensifies, India’s ability to safeguard its interests will increasingly depend on how well it commands the seas. With the Rafale French aircraft poised to take off from Vikrant’s deck, India is positioning itself for a future where naval aviation plays a central role in defence strategy.
The move also reflects a growing maturity in India’s defence procurement, shifting from piecemeal buys to holistic capability development. Whether the fighter jet Rafale becomes a bridge to future indigenous platforms or a cornerstone of a sustained French partnership, one thing is clear: the era of carrier-based deterrence has truly begun for India.
The Rafale fighter plane may soon become synonymous with India’s maritime resolve, a sleek silhouette above the ocean that signals not just readiness, but reach. As the waves shift beneath this new chapter in naval aviation, India stands ready, not just to respond, but to lead.
