The Rafale Marine Deal: Adding Strategic Depth to India–France Ties
Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses
“The Rafale-M is expected to replace the currently operating Russian-origin Mikoyan MiG-29K on at least one of the Indian Navy’s two aircraft carriers. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2028 and conclude by 2030. Unlike conventional land-based fighters, the Rafale-M is engineered explicitly for aircraft carrier deployment, featuring reinforced landing gear, a tail hook for arrested landings, and the ability to launch from short runways on moving ships under challenging maritime conditions. Already in service with the French Navy, it offers advanced combat capabilities through its Thales RBE2 AESA radar and Self-Protection Equipment to Counter Threats for Rafale Aircraft (SPECTRA) electronic warfare suite, enabling superior situational awareness and survivability in contested environments. These fighters are intended to perform a range of missions, including air defence, maritime strike, reconnaissance and precision shore attacks.”
“The induction of Rafale-M jets will significantly enhance India’s Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) by combining advanced reconnaissance capabilities with air superiority and long-range strike potential. With extended operational reach from aircraft carriers, Rafale-Ms will expand the Navy’s surveillance envelope across key sea lanes, ensuring strategic advantage in contested waters. The platform is expected to deliver a speed of up to Mach 1.8 and support a versatile payload of air-to-air, air-to-ground and anti-ship missiles, serving as a significant force multiplier for the naval aviation fleet. India is also discussing procuring the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme with France, which aims to increase the IAF’s dwindling strength.”
Source: MPIDSA