India's Naval strategy shifts with $7.6B Rafale M acquisition
According to the Bulgarian Military portal, which cites numerous Asian media reports, India has decided to purchase French Rafale M fighters. These aircraft will replace the unreliable Russian MiG-29K fighters currently used on Indian aircraft carriers.
The Indian Navy has two aircraft carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. The Rafale M is expected to play a key role in increasing the capabilities of the country's naval aviation.
According to the media, the contract, which involves 26 Rafale M fighters, has already been signed and is expected to be announced officially in April. India will pay France approximately $7.6 billion CAD for these aircraft.
The Indian Navy disappointed with MiG-29K
The Indian Navy recognized the need to modernize its fleet several years ago. When announcing the competition related to the new onboard aircraft, purchasing additional MiG-29K fighters from Russia was not considered at all.
A series of unfortunate incidents have plagued the MiG-29 K fighters, resulting in Delhi losing several units. Those still in service are not rated highly, and the Indian military command criticizes the Russian fighters for their limited combat capabilities, which are due in part to poor engines or defective landing gear. An internal audit conducted in 2020 revealed that only 60% of Indian MiG-29K fighters were fully operational at the time. The rest were unfit for service due to technical failures and logistical issues related to components.
Meanwhile, the Russians have been unable to complete repairs on their only aircraft carrier for years, which means they do not use MiG-29K fighters. Reuben Johnson, a former Pentagon consultant, stated in his February analysis that the MiG-29K has gotten into trouble, and it's unclear what its future holds.
Rafale M to strengthen the Indian Navy
For years, India remained militarily aligned with Russia. They continue to sign contracts for military equipment, but noticeably fewer than in previous years. They are increasingly opting for equipment from NATO countries. This trend is evident in the context of fighter jets. India already operates 36 Rafale fighters, and the Rafale M will join them shortly.
The Rafale M is a carrier-based variant designed to operate from aircraft carriers. It is slightly heavier, with reinforced landing gear and a few additional elements compared to the standard Rafale, but it can achieve a maximum speed of up to 1.8 Mach (about 1,900 km/h). It can carry various types of armament, including the long-range air-to-air missile Meteor.
In the Indian tender, the Rafale M defeated the American F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. India's choice of French aircraft may offer long-term benefits, as the Rafale M shares approximately 80% of its components with the Rafale, which can facilitate maintenance and reduce costs.
For Russia, this turn of events is another blow. India remains one of the largest arms importers in the world, with many countries vying for defense contracts with Delhi. Russia does too, as evidenced by the example of the Su-57, which continues to be offered to Indian authorities and was recently showcased at the Aero India 2025 fair.
