(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – India is reportedly set to sign a contract for the purchase of 26 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation, France, for deployment on its aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.
INS Vikrant is India’s first domestically-built aircraft carrier.
According to Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier, who was interviewed by “Le Tribune”, another country is on the verge of signing a contract for the acquisition of Rafale fighter jets.
Although Trappier did not reveal the name of the country, international defense analysts believe it is likely to be India, given that both sides are currently in negotiations over the aircraft purchase.
The French newspaper suggested that India and France are expected to finalize the deal for the acquisition of the Rafale fighter jets in the carrier variant, known as the “Rafale Marine,” by the end of the year.
It also noted that while the overall negotiations between India and Dassault Aviation have concluded, discussions with missile manufacturer MBDA are still ongoing.
India has been a Rafale user since 2016, when it signed a contract to acquire 36 of these fighter jets.
The last of the 36 jets has already been delivered, and the two squadrons equipped with the Rafale are now fully operational.
News of India being on the brink of acquiring 26 Rafale Marine jets for its aircraft carrier operations comes just days after France and Serbia signed an agreement for the procurement of 12 Rafale fighters.
In 2023, India entered negotiations with France for the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine jets, consisting of 22 single-seat and four two-seat aircraft, with an estimated value of $6 billion (RM26 billion).
All 26 jets are intended for use aboard India’s aircraft carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
The Rafale Marine was selected for carrier operations following a competition that included the U.S.-made F/A-18 Super Hornet.
India had already conducted tests of the Rafale Marine at its facility in Goa, which simulates an aircraft carrier deck, in 2022.
The acquisition of the Rafale Marine is meant to replace the MiG-29K fighter jets currently in use on India’s aircraft carriers, which have faced operational issues, resulting in several accidents.
The procurement has been approved by India’s Defence Acquisition Council.
However, the Rafale Marine is viewed as a temporary solution until India develops its Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter, expected to be operational by 2031.
The acquisition of 36 Rafale Marine jets highlights the growing global demand for the Rafale fighter.
To date, Dassault Aviation and France have sold 297 Rafale jets globally, surpassing the sales of the Mirage fighter, which reached 286 units.
Sales of the Rafale fighter include 55 to Egypt, 36 to Qatar, 36 to India, 24 to Greece (12 of which were second-hand), 80 to the United Arab Emirates, 12 second-hand units to Croatia, 42 to Indonesia, and 12 to Serbia.
If the sale of 36 Rafale jets to India materializes, the total number of Rafale fighters sold internationally will reach 323. — DSA