KEY POINTS
- India to buy 26 Rafale Marine jets from France for Rs 63,000 crore
- Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security, led by PM Modi
- Jets to arrive by 2029, full fleet by 2031
India has approved a major deal to buy 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets from France for the Indian Navy. The deal, worth over Rs 63,000 crore, was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The jets are expected to start arriving by the end of 2029, and the full fleet will be ready by 2031. The Navy will receive 22 single-seat and 4 twin-seat Rafale M jets. The deal also includes training for naval personnel.
These new Rafale M jets will replace the old MiG-29K fighters and will be used on India’s aircraft carriers—INS Vikramaditya and the new INS Vikrant. The Rafale M jets are built for naval operations and are equipped with advanced systems for sea combat.
The jets will be delivered within 37 to 65 months after the contract is signed. They are designed to land on aircraft carriers with special features like strong landing gear and arrestor hooks for quick take-offs and landings.
The deal will be handled through an inter-governmental agreement, which will help speed up delivery and ensure support for maintenance from the French company, Dassault Aviation.
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