The Indian Navy will acquire 26 French Rafale M fighters to form the embarked combat wing of the new aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
Under the MRCBF (Multi-Role Carrier-Borne Fighters) program, the Indian Navy wants to acquire 26 multi-role carrier-borne fighters to equip its new locally designed and built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the Dassault Rafale M – naval version of the Rafale – were competing for this contract, and were extensively evaluated by Indian personnel. Both models underwent an intensive test campaign at the INS Hansa facility, which features a 283-meter long runway with a ski-jump, to simulate operations on the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
The results of these tests are not known in detail, but the Navy has reportedly said that both models meet its needs, leaving the selection of one of the two contestants in the hands of the government.
See also: Super Hornet production to end in 2025, unless an order arrives from India
When Modi arrives in Paris
According to the Hindustan Times newspaper, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to sign an agreement for the procurement of the 26 Rafale-Marine fighters and another for the licensed construction of three more Scorpene (Kalveri) class submarines at Mazagon Dockyards Limited (MDL) during his two-day visit (July 13-14) to France this week.
In addition, during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Paris, it is understood that India and France will agree on an investment and technology transfer roadmap aimed at boosting India’s defense industry ecosystem.
See also: The year of the Rafale: Dassault Aviation presented its financial results 2022
Some details of the agreement
While the Indian Ministry of Defense approved the purchase of the Rafale, the price, terms and conditions will be negotiated later through a government-to-government (G2G) agreement. The 26 fighters will be single-seat and Indian Navy pilots will be trained in France and on state-of-the-art flight simulators at Indian facilities.
It is assumed that one squadron (18 fighters) will be aboard INS Vikrant and the remaining eight will be based in Goa as reserves for rotation.
