India Orders 26 Rafale Carrier-Based Fighter Jets for €7.5 Billion

India has signed an agreement with France for the supply of 26 Rafale M carrier-based fighter jets to equip its aircraft carrier, the Vikrant, Naval News reported.

The deal is the first-ever export order for the French Rafale M carrier variant.

The agreement had initially been scheduled for signing during French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s visit to India on April 28, but was finalized instead by other senior officials following the postponement of the trip.

Under the agreement, India’s naval aviation will receive 26 Rafales, including four in a two-seat configuration that cannot operate from aircraft carriers.

These twin-seat variants will be restricted to land-based operations for training and pilot qualification purposes.

The French-built aircraft are expected to replace the Russian MiG-29K/KUB fighters currently serving as the backbone of India’s carrier aviation, which have faced persistent reliability and assembly quality issues.

In addition to the carrier-based Rafales, India also plans to order more Rafale C fighters for its air force.

As part of its MRFA-plus program, India plans to procure additional 40 Rafale fighters, driven in part by delays in selecting a new multi-role fighter for its air force.

India currently operates fewer than the 41 squadrons deemed necessary to counter the Chinese air force effectively.

Procurement efforts for new aircraft have faced several challenges, including difficulties in finding a medium fighter that meets requirements for a high level of domestic production and acceptable cost.

Despite these obstacles, India is actively negotiating with French firms Dassault Aviation and Safran to deepen cooperation, which could offer an alternative path forward outside the MRFA framework.