In a significant move, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved India’s largest-ever fighter jet deal, sanctioning the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine combat aircraft for the Indian Navy, the ANI reported. The deal, valued at over Rs 63,000 crore, will be carried out through a government-to-government agreement with France, the report mentioned.
The contract will include 22 single-seater and 4 twin-seater Rafale Marine jets, along with a comprehensive support package that covers fleet maintenance, logistical assistance, personnel training, and indigenous manufacturing components under offset obligations, according to the report.
The delivery of the Rafale M jets is expected to begin approximately five years after the deal is signed. These aircraft will be stationed on INS Vikrant, India’s first homegrown aircraft carrier, and will complement the Navy’s existing fleet of MiG-29K jets.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) currently operates 36 Rafale jets at its bases in Ambala and Hashimara.
