Overview

• Indian and French defense ministers signed an intergovernmental agreement on April 28, 2025, for 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets.
• The $7.4 billion deal includes pilot training, simulators, weapons integration, maintenance, and local production facilities in India.
• The Indian Navy will replace its aging Soviet-era MiG-29s with 22 single-seat and four two-seat Rafale Marine jets for its two aircraft carriers.
• The first deliveries of the Rafale Marine jets are expected in 2030, marking the Indian Navy as the first international operator of the aircraft.
• This acquisition strengthens Indo-French defense ties and supports India’s push for defense modernization and self-reliance in manufacturing.