Rafale fighter jet.
PTI file photo
New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Security on Wednesday approved buying 26 Rafale-Marine deck-based fighter jets for the Indian Navy from France in a government-to-government deal at a cost of nearly Rs 64,000 crore (over $ 7 billion), giving more teeth to the marine force.
The jets that will take off from the decks of indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant would start coming five years after the commercial contract is inked between India and France, defence sources said here. All the aircraft are likely to be delivered by 2031.
The Rafale-M deal is expected to be signed when French Defence Minister Sebastian Lecornu visits Delhi next. While dates have not been finalised, there are speculations that he may visit India later this month.
The contract would include 22 single-seater fighters and four twin-seater trainer aircraft besides a comprehensive package on fleet maintenance, logistical support and training for personnel. It will also include the indigenous manufacturing of aircraft components under the deal’s offset obligation.
The French aircraft was selected by the Indian Navy after extensive trials of Rafale-M, manufactured by Dassault Aviation and F-18 of Boeing. The trial results were evaluated by top experts at naval headquarters before a decision was made.
This will be India’s second Rafale deal following the purchase of 36 Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force, which deployed the 4.5 generation fighters at Ambala and Hasimara air bases.
Under the deal, the Indian Navy will also get associated ancillary equipment, including weapon systems and spares from Dassault Aviation. The aircraft’s weapon package, it is understood, will be similar to the IAF’s Rafale.
While the Rafale-M will operate from the home-grown 40,000-tonne aircraft carrier, they will also open up a window for the Indian Navy to ask the Union Government for a third aircraft carrier besides the two existing ones, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, that use MiG-29K as their principal weapon.
Induction of Rafale-M may also provide breathing space to the Aeronautical Development Agency, Defence Research and Development Organisation and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to complete the ambitious twin-engine deck-based fighter (TEDBF) programme to complement the LCA Navy.
Another multi-billion military deal to construct three additional Scorpene class submarines at Mazagaon dock in Mumbai with technology transfer from France is awaiting the CCS nod.