India and France on Monday signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement worth $7.4 billion or nearly ₹64,000 crores to procure 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy. This is the largest defence deal between the two nations, marking the first-ever export order of the naval variant of the French fighter jet.
India’s Ministry of Defence said that of the 26 Rafale-M jets, twenty-two are Single-Seaters with four being Twin-Seaters. The contract includes simulators, associated equipment, weapons and performance-based logistics with delivery expected to be completed by 2030 and the crew undergoing training in France and India.
What’s more, the deal also includes additional equipment to upgrade the existing fleet of 36 Rafale jets procured in 2015 and operated by the Indian Air Force.
Rafale-M jets: What’s the endgame?
Why does the induction of these 26 new Rafale-M jets, a 4.5-gen battle-proven combat aircraft, matter so much for the Indian Navy?
Mainly because this deal is an immediate shot-in-the-arm to the Indian navy that does not have enough jets for its two aircraft carriers - the Russian-made INS Vikramaditya and the indigenously built INS Vikrant. Currently, the two carriers operate the MiG-29K jets that are nearing retirement, necessitating the Navy to look for alternatives.
More importantly, these marine jets will substantially enhance joint operational capability as they have commonality with the existing Rafales being operated by the IAF.
With 90% of India’s trade by volume moving by sea, the arrival of the Rafale-M jets is expected to help India protect her maritime interests, especially in the Indo-Pacific.
Indian naval carriers help secure Sea Lines of Communication and protect island territories, and deter potential threats - such as the rising naval ambitions of China, and any misadventures by neighbouring Pakistan.
Aatmanirbhar Bharat
Furthermore, unlike the previous Rafale deal, this IGA is in line with the government's “Make in India” initiative - Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
The agreement includes “Transfer of Technology” for integration of indigenous weapons such as the Indian-made Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile - ASTRA. To do this, India would need access to the Rafale-M’s source code. Being granted access enables India to modernise without compromising its quest for self-reliance.
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation too played a crucial role. The DRDO’s ambitious plan to develop and launch the indigenous fifth-gen aircraft - Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) - by 2030 helped half the original proposal of 50+ jets to 26.
Boosting India’s soft power goals
Beyond operational readiness, the Indian Navy also plays a vital role in humanitarian and disaster relief operations that will help India with her soft power ambitions and her ability to respond to regional emergencies and calamities.
