India-France Negotiations On Navy Rafales To Begin This Week

India is going to start talking to France this week about getting 26 Rafale Marine planes for INS Vikrant, which will be the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier. Officials with knowledge of the matter said Tuesday.

The deal for the two-engine deck-based fighters, which are made to fight for a long time at sea, is thought to be worth about ₹50,000 crore.

Officials who did not want to be named said that talks between the two sides should start on May 30 after a French team arrives in the country.

India’s defense acquisition council (DAC), which is led by defense minister Rajnath Singh, agreed in July 2023 to the Indian Navy’s plan to buy 26 Rafale M fighters to improve its operational skills. France replied to India’s bid in December of last year.

The Indian Navy will get weapons, a simulator, spare parts, and other tools as part of the Rafale deal. The French government will also help with crew training and logistics.

The price and other details of the purchase will be worked out with the French government after all important factors are taken into account, such as how much similar planes cost to buy in other countries.

The defense ministry had earlier said, “After proper negotiations, the contract documents will include the integration of Indian-designed equipment and the setting up of maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) hubs for different systems.”

The navy needs the Rafale M until India can make its own twin-engine deck-based fighter (TEDBF). This is why India is importing it. In 2026, the first TEDBF prototype could take its first flight, and by 2031, it would be ready to be made.

The Rafale M is a strong plane that has many design features that make it much more likely to survive operations on aircraft carriers that are hard and put deck-based assets in a climate that is very corrosive.

That ship beat out the American F/A-18 Super Hornet in a straight race to give the navy new fighters that can be used on deck. The plane was built to operate from aircraft carriers that can carry 40,000 tons. It is being used on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier of the French Navy.

The Rafale M’s body and undercarriage are very strong, making it ideal for use on aircraft carriers. It is made of advanced composite materials and corrosion-resistant metals, and its parts offer the best protection against rust. As was previously said, the plane’s performance isn’t affected by harsh tropical environments.

The fighter jets on INS Vikrant, which was built at Cochin Shipyard for ₹20,000 crore, take off with a ski-jump and land on arrestor wires, which is also known as STOBAR (short takeoff but stopped recovery). This puts a lot of stress on the planes.

The Indian Air Force has 36 Rafale jets that were bought from France for ₹59,000 crore. The naval version of the plane will have features in common with the IAF’s fighters, which will make training, repair, and logistics easier.

India also wants to build three more Scorpene-class submarines with French technology to improve the navy’s underwater abilities. This is happening at a time when the country is having trouble meeting its modernization goals set 25 years ago and the important Make in India project for advanced submarines is moving slowly forward.