The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday (April 9, 2025) approved a nearly ₹63,000-crore deal for the procurement of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets from France for the Indian Navy, official sources confirmed.
The contract is expected to be concluded later this month. It includes 22 single-seater jets that can operate from aircraft carriers and four twin-seater trainer jets, which are not carrier-compatible.
The CCS approval for the government-to-government deal is the final step, and the agreement now awaits formal conclusion. It is expected to be signed during the French Defence Minister’s visit to India likely later this month.
This leaves another mega deal with France for three additional Scorpene-class conventional submarines awaiting CCS approval, before it can be finalised.
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The delivery of the jets will begin three-and-a-half years after the contract is signed and is expected to be completed in about six- and-a-half years, official sources said. The Indian Air Force operates 36 Rafale jets, acquired under a ₹60,000-crore deal signed in September 2016.
The Indian Navy got the opportunity to witness the performance of the Rafale-M jets aboard the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle during the bilateral Varuna exercise last month.
On July 13, 2023, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, had accorded initial approval for the procurement of 26 Rafale-M fighters and three additional Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarines.
The Navy currently operates two aircraft carriers — INS Vikramaditya, which was procured from Russia, and the indigenously built INS Vikrant, which was commissioned in September 2022.
Published – April 09, 2025 02:14 pm IST
