<p>The marine version of the French-made Rafale fighter jet has been successfully flight-tested at a shore-based facility in Goa where conditions similar to that on the indigenously-developed aircraft carrier INS Vikrant were simulated, a top diplomat said.</p>.<p>The Rafale-M is pitted against the US-made Super Hornet -- both of which are being evaluated for a possible purchase by the Indian Navy for deployment on the 44,000-tonne INS Vikrant that is undergoing trials in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal for likely commissioning in August.</p>.<p>"Tests were done to check its (Rafale-Marine's) take-off (capability) from the deck of your (India's) carrier and it has done very well," Frech Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain told journalists on Tuesday evening here in a free-wheeling conversation.</p>.<p>India's new aircraft carrier has been designed as a ski-jump launch ship, different from many other such carriers, which use a catapult launch for their jets. The aircraft selected by the Indian Navy consequently must be capable of taking off in this fashion, carrying all weapon systems and full fuel load.</p>.<p>The Rafale-M jet was tested for 12 days last month at Goa's INS Hansa facility using a 283-metre mock ski-jump facility, Lenain said.</p>.<p>The ski-jump ramp uses what naval experts call short take-off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) technology.</p>.<p>Boeing's Super Hornet or F/A-18 jet, which is also being offered to India, is expected to undergo similar tests at INS Hansa next month.</p>.<p>The suppliers have made modifications to both Rafale-M and Super Hornet to make them suitable for the Indian order, defence sources said.</p>.<p>The Navy was looking for an aircraft that is capable of delivering nuclear loads, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, and precision-guided bombs, they said.</p>.<p>The Navy wants to initially purchase 26 jets for its aircraft carrier, though it had issued in 2017 a Request for Information (RFI) for 57 multirole aircraft capable of being launched from carriers.</p>.<p>The RFI was issued as the Navy will be phasing out the MiG-29Ks, currently being used on INS Vikramaditya -- a modified Kiev class carrier -- in 2034.</p>.<p>Ambassador Lenain pointed out that the Indian Air Force was already using Rafale fighter jets and "was very satisfied with the aircraft".</p>.<p>Since the IAF has Rafale jets, a Naval order would build on commonality, he said.</p>.<p>"We have already supplied 35 Rafales in the last order and will complete it by sending the 36th before the deadline in April," he said.</p>.<p>India had in 2016 placed the order for the jets with Dassault in a fly-away condition. </p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>The marine version of the French-made Rafale fighter jet has been successfully flight-tested at a shore-based facility in Goa where conditions similar to that on the indigenously-developed aircraft carrier INS Vikrant were simulated, a top diplomat said.</p>.<p>The Rafale-M is pitted against the US-made Super Hornet -- both of which are being evaluated for a possible purchase by the Indian Navy for deployment on the 44,000-tonne INS Vikrant that is undergoing trials in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal for likely commissioning in August.</p>.<p>"Tests were done to check its (Rafale-Marine's) take-off (capability) from the deck of your (India's) carrier and it has done very well," Frech Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain told journalists on Tuesday evening here in a free-wheeling conversation.</p>.<p>India's new aircraft carrier has been designed as a ski-jump launch ship, different from many other such carriers, which use a catapult launch for their jets. The aircraft selected by the Indian Navy consequently must be capable of taking off in this fashion, carrying all weapon systems and full fuel load.</p>.<p>The Rafale-M jet was tested for 12 days last month at Goa's INS Hansa facility using a 283-metre mock ski-jump facility, Lenain said.</p>.<p>The ski-jump ramp uses what naval experts call short take-off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) technology.</p>.<p>Boeing's Super Hornet or F/A-18 jet, which is also being offered to India, is expected to undergo similar tests at INS Hansa next month.</p>.<p>The suppliers have made modifications to both Rafale-M and Super Hornet to make them suitable for the Indian order, defence sources said.</p>.<p>The Navy was looking for an aircraft that is capable of delivering nuclear loads, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, and precision-guided bombs, they said.</p>.<p>The Navy wants to initially purchase 26 jets for its aircraft carrier, though it had issued in 2017 a Request for Information (RFI) for 57 multirole aircraft capable of being launched from carriers.</p>.<p>The RFI was issued as the Navy will be phasing out the MiG-29Ks, currently being used on INS Vikramaditya -- a modified Kiev class carrier -- in 2034.</p>.<p>Ambassador Lenain pointed out that the Indian Air Force was already using Rafale fighter jets and "was very satisfied with the aircraft".</p>.<p>Since the IAF has Rafale jets, a Naval order would build on commonality, he said.</p>.<p>"We have already supplied 35 Rafales in the last order and will complete it by sending the 36th before the deadline in April," he said.</p>.<p>India had in 2016 placed the order for the jets with Dassault in a fly-away condition. </p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>