India, France to sign deal for Rafale-M fighter jets for Indian Navy on April 28: Report

The delivery of the jets will begin around five years after the signing of the contract under an inter-governmental framework between India and France.

The largest-ever defence deal between India and France for the sale of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for the Indian Navy is likely to be signed on April 28 in the presence of French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu.

News agency ANI has cited defence sources that senior officials from both India and France will represent the two sides at the signing of the over Rs 63,000 crore contract. The sources said that the event is also planned to be held outside the Defence Ministry headquarters in South Block.

French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu is expected to reach India on the evening of 27 April and return on 28 April late evening, the sources said to ANI.

The government earlier cleared the procurement of 26 naval variant of Rafale jets from France at a cost of around Rs 63,000 crore, sources in the defence establishment said, as reported by news agency PTI.

The delivery of the jets will begin around five years after the signing of the contract under an inter-governmental framework between India and France.

In July 2023, the defence ministry approved the purchase of 26 Rafale (marine) jets from France, primarily for deployment on board the indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

Under the deal, the Indian Navy will also get associated ancillary equipment including weapon systems and spares, from Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of Rafale (Marine) jets.

The Indian Air Force bought 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in fly-away condition.

There is a thinking in the IAF that it should go for at least two more squadrons of Rafale jets. The defence and strategic ties between India and France have been on an upswing in the last few years.

In July 2023, India and France announced a raft of ground-breaking defence cooperation projects, including the joint development of jet and helicopter engines.

The two strategic partners also expressed commitment to cooperate in the co-development and co-production of advanced defence technologies, including for the benefit of third countries.

The defence ministry also approved a proposal nearly two years back to procure three Scorpene submarines to further crank up India’s naval prowess.

However, the CCS has yet to clear the project.

Under the Indian Navy’s Project 75, six Scorpene submarines have already been constructed in India by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in cooperation with the Naval Group of France.

*With Agency Inputs