India Secures Rs 63,000 Crore Rafale Marine Jet Deal with France

India has signed a landmark ₹63,000 crore ($7.5 billion) defense deal with France for 26 Rafale Marine jets, marking a major enhancement of its naval aviation capabilities and deepening bilateral defense ties. The Rafale Marine jets—22 single-seaters and 4 twin-seaters—will operate from India’s indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, strengthening the Indian Navy’s operational reach, especially in the Indo-Pacific amid regional tensions. These advanced multi-role fighters will provide India with capabilities for air dominance, precision strikes, reconnaissance, and anti-ship operations, and will be equipped with long-range SCALP and Meteor missiles. The agreement also includes weapons, simulators, spares, training, and maintenance support, ensuring India remains at the forefront of naval aviation technology. This is the first export order for the naval variant of the Rafale and follows successful trials demonstrating its suitability for Indian carriers. The deal builds on India's previous procurement of 36 Rafale jets for its Air Force and reflects a broader modernization of India's air and naval forces.