India and France finalise agreement for 26 Rafale-Ms

 (Source – Page 1, The Hindu International Edition (April 29, 2025)

Overview of the Agreement

• India will procure 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Navy under an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA).
• Deal value: ~₹64,000 crore.
• Deliveries to begin from mid-2028 and complete by 2030.
• Includes training, simulators, weapons package, associated equipment, and performance-based logistics.
• Signed remotely by Defence Ministers Rajnath Singh (India) and Sebastien Lecornu (France).

Strategic Importance

• Carrier-Based Capability: Rafale-Ms will be deployed on India’s aircraft carriers like INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, enhancing maritime strike capability.
• Technological Transfer: Includes transfer of technology for integrating indigenous weapons like the Astra Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles.
• MRO Ecosystem Development: Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities for aircraft engines and sensors will be set up in India, supporting Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Employment Generation: Expected to create thousands of jobs and benefit Indian MSMEs (Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises).

Defence and Strategic Implications

• Boost to Indo-Pacific Strategy: Strengthens India’s role as a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific amidst rising Chinese assertiveness.
• Deepening India-France Strategic Partnership: Builds on existing defence collaborations like the earlier Rafale IAF deal and submarine projects.
• Enhancement of Air Power: Provides a sophisticated multirole aircraft capable of air superiority, deep strike, reconnaissance, and nuclear deterrence missions.

Challenges and Concerns

• High Cost: The financial outlay remains very high at a time when defence modernization across services is competing for resources.
• Dependence on Foreign OEMs: Despite some technology transfer, India remains dependent for critical platforms.
• Training and Integration Timeline: Pilot and crew training, integration with Indian carriers, and weapon system compatibility may require extensive lead time.

Conclusion / Way Forward

The Rafale-M deal significantly strengthens India’s naval aviation power and underlines Indo-French strategic convergence. Going forward, India must ensure rapid absorption of technology, timely induction of aircraft, and complementary indigenous development (e.g., the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter project) to achieve greater self-reliance in defence.