India has signed an agreement with France to acquire 26 Rafale fighter jets in their naval variant, the Rafale M.
The contract was signed on April 28, 2025, in the presence of Indian Defense Secretary Raj Kumar Singh, Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Éric Trappier, and French Ambassador to India Thierry Mathou.
“On behalf of Dassault Aviation and its partners, I would like to thank the Indian authorities, with whom we have been working for more than 70 years, for their confidence in us and reaffirm our unwavering determination to stand by their side to contribute to India’s expression of its sovereign power, its strategic challenges and its ambitious vision of the future,” Trappier commented in a statement.
The deal, valued at approximately $7.4 billion, covers 22 single-seat Rafale M fighters and four twin-seat trainer variants. The aircraft are set to operate from the Indian Navy’s indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, bolstering India’s maritime strike capabilities across the Indian Ocean.
#WATCH | Delhi | The Intergovernmental agreement was exchanged between the two sides in the presence of Defence Secretary RK Singh and Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral K Swaminathan.
(Source: Indian Navy) https://t.co/6Z4UhJ4ypY pic.twitter.com/R3Z0o9RAuA
— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2025
First export customer for the Rafale Marine
The Rafale M was selected over competing options, notably Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, following extensive evaluations, including ski-jump tests to assess carrier compatibility. The acquisition package includes advanced weapon systems such as Meteor air-to-air missiles and Exocet anti-ship missiles, along with a comprehensive maintenance and training support plan.
The four twin-seat trainer aircraft, however, will not be carrier-capable. Although Dassault Aviation once considered developing a carrier-suitable two-seat variant, known as the Rafale N or Rafale BM, the project was abandoned due to cost and design complexities. As a result, India’s twin-seat Rafales will be restricted to land-based training missions.
This procurement marks a significant milestone for the Rafale M, as India becomes the first export customer of the French Navy’s carrier-based fighter. It also represents the first production of Rafale M units since 2017, when the French Navy took delivery of its 42nd and final Rafale M aircraft.
Deliveries of the Indian Navy’s Rafale M fighters are expected to commence within four years of the contract signing, with full operational induction anticipated by 2031.
France and Dassault Aviation’s ambitions in India do not end with the naval deal. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is reportedly pursuing a government-to-government agreement to acquire 40 additional Rafale jets, which would supplement the existing fleet of 36 aircraft and bring the total number to 76. Dassault Aviation is also a key contender in India’s Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program, which aims to procure 114 combat aircraft.
