India Set to Purchase 26 Rafale Fighter Jets and 3 Submarines from France
India is planning to acquire 26 Rafale fighter aircraft and three Scorpene class submarines from France, according to sources ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the country. The proposals for these purchases have been presented to the defense ministry by the armed forces and are expected to be announced during Modi’s visit.
Under the proposed deals, the Indian Navy will receive 22 single-seated Rafale Marine aircraft, along with four trainer aircraft. The Navy has been advocating for the acquisition of these fighter jets and submarines in light of security challenges, particularly the threat posed by an expanding Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean Region.
The INS Vikramaditya and Vikrant aircraft carriers, which currently operate MiG-29s, require the Rafales for operations on both carriers. Meanwhile, the three Scorpene class submarines will be acquired by the Navy as part of Project 75, with construction taking place at the Mazagon Dockyards Limited in Mumbai.
Although the exact cost of these deals is yet to be finalized, industry estimates place their worth at over Rs 90,000 crore. The government is likely to negotiate for price concessions in the contracts, while also emphasizing the inclusion of more ‘Make-in-India’ content.
The purchase of Rafale-M jets is expected to involve joint negotiations between India and France, as was the case with the previous deal for 36 fighter aircraft. The defense ministry has already discussed these proposals in high-level meetings and they are expected to be presented before the defense acquisition council for approval in the coming days.
The Indian Navy evaluated the naval versions of both the Rafale fighter jets from France and the American F/A-18 Super Hornet, before submitting a report to the government for a final decision on the best fighter for its recently launched aircraft carrier. The Rafale-M, like the F/A-18, features short take-off and arrested recovery technology necessary for deck deployment on the INS Vikrant.
With its advanced air power capabilities compared to the current MIG-29K deployed on the aircraft carrier, the Rafale-M remains a strong choice for the Indian Navy. Prime Minister Modi’s visit to France on July 13-14, where he will be the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade, is expected to provide an opportunity to officially announce these significant defense deals.
