Rafale-M has been introduced to ensure full-scale fighter strength on both aircraft carriers

afafale-m jet. document. |Photo source: Dinakar Peri

Rafale-MM fighter jets last week signed from the second quarter of 2028, which will allow the Indian Navy to be equipped with fighter jets. However, the aircraft and the flight deck of the carrier will require minor modifications to the Rafale-M to be able to adapt to the lift and optimal performance.

“The lift will require some modifications to adapt to gusts, and as Indian operators use skiing, the entire system will need some changes,” a source said.

On the plane, the gust of wing towers need to be removed, which takes several minutes before moving on the elevator, another source said. The lifts on board are used to move jets and equipment between the clothes hangers below and the flight deck above.

The merger of capital allocation in the defense budget two years ago canceled service-specific capital allocations, which also facilitated priority payments for waves of transactions, which were planned to end financially earlier.

Delivery of these aircraft will begin in the second quarter of 2028 and be completed by the end of 2030, with crew members trained in France and India.

Intergovernmental transactions

On April 28, India and France concluded an intergovernmental agreement, namely, 26 types of Marine jets – 22 single-seat and four-twin seats – the Indian Navy. The agreement includes training, simulators, related equipment, weapons and performance-based logistics (PBL) for five years, costing nearly Rs 6.4 crore. The transaction fee is not formally mentioned. The deal also includes other equipment from the Indian Air Force's existing 36 Rafale fleet, which officials said includes some support and maintenance equipment. Rafale-M will be able to operate from two carriers – ins vikramaditya and ins vikrant.

The country's first indigenous vector ins vikrant262 meters long and 62 meters wide, can operate the wings of 30 aircraft, including the Mig-29k fighter aircraft, in the future, Rafale-MS, Kamov-31 Kamov-31 Early Warning Helicopters, MH-60R Porous Helicopters and Indigenous Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH). Both aircraft carriers launched and recovered aircraft using Stobar (a recovery method for short takeoff but arrested), equipped with ski bombs for launching the aircraft, and three “Arrester Dire” were restored.

The Navy and the Department of Defense are eager to reach a deal in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Funds have been designated as capital budget. However, as the transaction is delayed, this will mean that the uncommitted money will be returned to the Treasury.

Capital Utilization

To avoid this and optimize capital utilization, the Alliance Government cleared and came up with a large transaction on the way, but ended the 2025-26 fiscal year: 156 transactions with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) 156 light combat helicopters (LCHs) for 285.2855 at a price of Rs 62,000. Allocation is beneficial for better management of procurement cycles. ”One of the above information.

Gusts are a multi-purpose aircraft capable of air defense, escorts, maritime strikes, dealing with coastal targets, reconnaissance and friend refueling missions. Navy purchased 45 Mig-29k jets from Russia ins vikramaditya. There are about 40 jets now, but their maintenance rate has not yet reached the mark, which leaves a gap in fighter strength if two carriers are deployed at the same time.

In the case of IAF Rafales, the contract stipulates that its manufacturer, Dassault Aviation, is part of performance-based logistics to ensure a 75% availability rate for the fleet.

The full complement of Indian Navy aircraft carriers is capable of exercising maritime control and maintaining enemy units within extended ranges while maintaining good condition within enemy weapons, Naval sources observed that the addition of “Rafale will also effectively provide the Navy with the capability to effect land through coastal strikes.”