New Delhi: Amid rising tensions with Pakistan due to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, India and France have signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for the purchase of 26 Rafale Aircraft—22 Single-Seaters and four Twin-Seaters—for the Indian Navy. This agreement includes provisions for training, simulators, associated equipment, weapons, and performance-based logistics, in addition to extra equipment for the Indian Air Force’s current Rafale fleet.
Produced by Dassault Aviation in France, the Rafale-Marine is a combat-ready aircraft designed for carrier operations, showcasing its effectiveness in maritime missions. The final deliveries of these aircraft are expected by 2030, with crews receiving training in both France and India.
The Indian Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, and France’s Minister of Armed Forces, Sebastien Lecornu, signed the IGA. On April 28, 2025, at Nausena Bhawan in New Delhi, Indian and French officials exchanged signed copies of the agreement along with the aircraft and weapons package supply protocols, witnessed by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
Aligned with the Government’s initiative for Aatmanirbhar Bharat, this agreement encompasses the Transfer of Technology aimed at incorporating homegrown weapons in India. It also involves establishing a production facility for Rafale fuselages, along with Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul services for aircraft engines, sensors, and weapons within the country. This deal is anticipated to create thousands of jobs and generate significant revenue for numerous MSMEs involved in the setup, production, and operation of these facilities.
Rafale-Marine has commonality with the Rafale being operated by the Indian Air Force. The Defence Ministry stated here that its procurement will substantially enhance joint operational capability, besides optimising training and logistics for the aircraft for both the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. The induction would lead to the addition of a potent force multiplier to the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers, substantially boosting the nation’s air power at sea, it added.
– global bihari bureau
