Overview

• India and France formally signed an intergovernmental agreement on April 28, 2025, for the acquisition of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy.
• The ₹63,000 crore deal includes 22 single-seater and 4 twin-seater jets, as well as fleet maintenance, logistical support, training, and indigenous component manufacturing under offset obligations.
• The Rafale-M jets will operate from India's aircraft carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, replacing the ageing MiG-29K fleet and boosting maritime security in the Indian Ocean region.
• Deliveries of the jets are scheduled to begin in 2029 and conclude by 2031, serving as a stopgap until India's indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) is operational.
• This acquisition deepens India-France defense cooperation and aligns with India's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative to enhance domestic defense manufacturing capabilities.