In a big boost to defense cooperation and Indo-Pacific security, India’s CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security) has cleared a $7 billion deal to procure 26 Rafale M, i.e. Rafale Marine fighter jets from France. This will not only strengthen Indian Navy’s air power but also reinforce ties between New Delhi and Paris. The deal cleared by the CCS headed by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi includes 22 single seat Rafale M (Marine) jets and 4 twin seat trainer variants. The jets will be deployed on India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant— a major step in India’s Carrier strike capabilities, a step towards becoming a blue water naval power.

For France, it’s an economic and geopolitical win. The Rafale platform developed by Dassault Aviation is a global success story and this is the second big Indian order after the earlier 36 Rafales for the Indian Air Force. With this naval variant, Dassault is now a preferred defense partner in Asia.

All About Rafale M:

The Rafale M is the carrier-capable version of the Rafale family, a twin-engine, multi-role fighter jet designed for versatility and performance in harsh environments. With a 35.8 feet wingspan and 50.2 feet length, it weighs 22,000 lbs empty and can carry 20,900 lbs of payload (including weapons and fuel). Powered by 2 Snecma M88-2 turbofans which provides super-cruising ability, each 16,900 lbs of thrust with afterburners, the Rafale M reaches Mach 1.8 (1,390 mph at high altitude) and has a combat radius of 1,150 miles.

Its airframe and landing gear are reinforced for catapult launches and arrested landings on aircraft carriers, and a corrosion-resistant coating for maritime operations. The jet’s avionics includes the Thales RBE2-AA active electronically scanned array radar, able to track multiple targets at long range, and the SPECTRA electronic warfare system, to jam enemy sensors and deflect threats.

The Rafale M is a powerful fighter for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions due to its wide range of armament options. With a range of more than 60 miles and a no-escape zone that tests even nimble adversaries, it can launch the Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.

The SCALP cruise missile provides accurate strikes against land targets up to 350 miles away, and the AM39 Exocet anti-ship missile, a tried-and-true weapon with a 40-mile range, is carried for maritime strikes. Rafale M will have 2500 rounds/min NEXTER 30M791 30 mm internal cannon, available on both single and two-seaters The Astra missile, an Indian developed missile with a range of roughly 60 miles, is anticipated to be incorporated into the Indian Navy’s Rafale M version, representing a major technological advancement for the country’s defense sector.

The Indian Navy’s need to project power across the Indian Ocean Region and Indo-Pacific is met by the Rafale M’s ability to switch between air superiority, ground attack, and reconnaissance missions with ease thanks to its versatility.

The Rafale M deal establishes India in an intricate web of alliances and rivalries, going beyond a simple arms purchase from a geopolitical standpoint. With China’s growing naval presence—shown by its increasing fleet of destroyers and aircraft carriers—causing stress in New Delhi, the Indian Ocean has turned into a hotspot for strategic rivalry.

The Rafale M jets will replace the MIG 29K and will be deployed on board India’s two aircraft carriers, the Russian-built INS Vikramaditya, which has been in service since 2013, and the domestically constructed INS Vikrant. The 45,000-ton Vikrant can accommodate up to 30 aircraft, and the 44,500-ton Vikramaditya can accommodate a comparable number. Using a ski-jump ramp for launches and arrestor wires for landings, both employ the Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery [STOBAR]

Rafale M, Bridging the Gap Until Indigenous Jets Arrive:

While the Rafale M is an interim solution, India is also working on long term self-reliance. The Indian Navy is developing the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) which is expected to be ready by 2033. While the Rafale M is an interim solution, India is also working on long term self-reliance. The Indian Navy is developing the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) which is expected to be ready by 2033. Deliveries will start 5 years after the deal is signed. The aircraft will be based on INS Vikrant which is currently undergoing sea trials with a MiG-29K air wing which the Rafales will complement and eventually replace. TEDBF is basically a naval version of the indigenous AMCA Fighter.

Rafale M Deal will also help India to support her quickly dwindling number of squadrons, that is simply disturbing for India’s capabilities to defend the Indian territory in the Sky & in the Seas.

Another layer is included by the larger framework of Franco-Indian relations. In addition to defense, the two countries work together on nuclear energy, with discussions regarding the Jaitapur nuclear power project still ongoing, and space, as demonstrated by joint satellite launches.  For France and India this is more than an arms deal. It’s a signal—a clear and deliberate statement about the kind of security architecture that will shape the Indo-Pacific in the years to come.