🔹 Naval Rafale Jets to Strengthen INS Vikrant’s Strike Capabilities
Etawah Today | Defence Desk – In a major boost to India’s maritime defence capabilities, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has cleared the much-anticipated deal to procure 26 Rafale (Marine) jets from France, worth around ₹64,000 crore.
The jets will be deployed aboard INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, significantly enhancing the Indian Navy’s air combat capabilities at sea.
🔹 Deal Follows Defence Ministry Nod in July 2023
This decision follows the Defence Ministry’s approval in July 2023 for the purchase of Rafale-M (Marine) jets, specifically designed for carrier-based operations. The move is aimed at modernizing naval aviation and replacing older platforms currently in use.
Alongside the Rafales, the ministry had also cleared the purchase of three additional Scorpene submarines from France under Project 75, although the CCS is yet to greenlight that portion of the procurement.
🔹 Inter-Governmental Agreement to Finalize Acquisition
The Rafale-M jets will be acquired under an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) between India and France. The package includes:
- 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets
- Weapon systems
- Spare parts
- Support infrastructure and training
This is India’s second major Rafale purchase. The Indian Air Force had earlier procured 36 Rafale jets in fly-away condition, which are now fully operational.
🔹 Naval Power Boost for India’s Blue Water Strategy
The deployment of Rafale-Ms on INS Vikrant, commissioned in 2022, will elevate the Navy’s blue water operations. These twin-engine fighter jets are equipped for air superiority, reconnaissance, and strike missions, and are compatible with aircraft carriers’ ski-jump launch systems.
Defence experts believe this move will further strengthen India’s presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) amid rising maritime challenges.
