Rafale-M: India’s Naval Powerhouse – Why It’s a Game Changer for Maritime Defense!

A major defense deal has been struck between the Government of India and France under which India will get 26 Rafale-M fighter jets from France. This deal is worth a total of Rs 63 thousand crores. After getting the fighter planes, the strength of the Indian Navy will increase and it will be easier to deal with the enemies. This deal has been done at the government to government (G2G) level. Under this, the Indian Navy will get 22 single-seater and 4 twin-seater Rafale M (Marine) fighter jets. These advanced naval version fighter aircraft will be deployed on aircraft carriers like INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. Let us know why this deal is so important for India in today's scenario and what is the strength of Rafale-M.

The deal was approved earlier this month
The Cabinet Committee on Security had approved the deal earlier this month. The current fleet of MiG-29K fighter jets has not proven to be reliable due to maintenance problems and several technical difficulties. The current picture is expected to change with the receipt of Rafale M jets. After receiving Rafale jets, they will be customized to meet Indian needs. They will be deployed on INS Vikrant.

What is included in this deal?
Logistic support and ground maintenance, training of pilots and technicians, manufacturing of some parts in India. If everything goes as planned, the first batch will arrive in India by the end of 2029 and all 26 aircraft will be delivered by 2031.

Why is this deal necessary?
China's growing presence in the sea, especially in the Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific region, has become a major strategic challenge for India. In such a situation, the deployment of Rafale M will make the security of India's maritime borders stronger than ever. This step is not only important in the direction of the modernization of the Indian Navy, but also gives a clear message to China that India is fully prepared to deal with any challenge at sea. The deployment of Rafale-M will establish India as a strong maritime power. The Rafale-M deal can prove to be a game changer for the Indian Navy. This step is a decisive initiative towards India's maritime security, defense strategy and maintaining balance in the Indo-Pacific region.

Features of Rafale M
Equipped with STOBAR technology (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery)
Strong landing gear and arrestor hook
Equipped with AESA radar and Spectra warfare system
Long range missiles like Meteor, SCALP and Exocet
Top speed of 1.8 Mach and operational range of 1850+ km
Air-to-air refueling facility
Rafale-M will replace MiG-29K
Currently, the Indian Navy is using MiG-29K aircraft, which were purchased from Russia in 2004 and inducted into service in 2009. These aircraft are deployed on INS Vikramaditya. However, now these aircraft have become technically outdated and are facing many problems. There are problems with it such as 30-40 years old technology, unavailability of spare parts, reduced combat capability. In such a situation, Rafale M has emerged as a state-of-the-art option.

The deal was sealed on 9 April
India earlier this month approved its biggest ever defence deal for 26 Rafale maritime fighter jets during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 9. The government-to-government contract includes 22 single-seater and four twin-seater jets, along with a comprehensive package for fleet maintenance, logistics support, training of personnel and indigenous component manufacturing.

There will be a total of 62 Rafale jets
The Rafale M jets will operate from INS Vikrant and will supplement the existing MiG-29K fleet. The Indian Air Force already operates a fleet of 36 Rafale jets acquired under a separate deal signed in 2016. These aircraft are based in Ambala and Hasimara. The new deal will take the total number of Rafale jets in India to 62, giving a significant boost to the country's fleet of 4.5-generation fighter aircraft.