India secures historic Rafale M naval deal with France
India has signed a record contract with France worth $7.5 billion (€6.6 billion) for the supply of Rafale M naval aircraft, along with operational support and an upgrade package for the 36 aircraft it already possesses. Here, we present the details of this contract and the performance of the Rafale aircraft.
According to the portal Naval News, India has signed an agreement with France to acquire 26 Rafale aircraft in the naval version. Of these, 22 units will be the single-seat Rafale M version, and four will be the two-seat DH version, which will operate exclusively from land. This limitation is due to the fact that the previously planned two-seat naval version, Rafale N, was not developed because of budget constraints.
Furthermore, the largest contract in history between India and France includes a package of weapons, spare parts, maintenance packages, and updates for the 36 Rafale aircraft currently operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The delivery of the Rafale M naval aircraft is expected between 2028 and 2030, with the first unit of the Indian version set to be showcased within 18 months.
The French Rafale M aircraft will not replace but will complement the MiG-29K aircraft, which India plans to keep in service until the 2040s. According to reports, it is also likely that India might eventually order a batch of additional Rafale aircraft.
Rafale M — The naval variant of France's export success
The Rafale M is the naval variant of the Rafale aircraft, which first flew in the 1990s and entered service in 2001. Until now, this variant has been used exclusively by France, but India will soon become the second user.
The easiest way to differentiate the M naval version from the C land-based version is by its 13 pylons, as one has been replaced by an arrestor hook for catching arresting wires on aircraft carriers. However, there are significantly more differences, such as the fact that the airframe and undercarriage in the M version are much stronger than in the land version.
A major advantage is the 95% compatibility of consumable parts with the land-based version (C), which greatly facilitates logistics and, in case of issues, allows for interchangeable use from the inventories of land and naval aviation parts.
Proven in combat during operations in Syria, among other places, the Rafale stands out for its excellent manoeuvrability and advanced sensor systems, including the IRST system and a modern active electronically scanned array radar. This aircraft can carry over 9 tonnes of armament, which, combined with its extensive arsenal, provides enormous capabilities.
An arsenal for every occasion
Options include advanced long-range air-to-air missiles Meteor, short/medium-range air-to-air missiles MICA (variants guided by RF radar or IIR heat source), anti-ship missiles AM 39 Exocet, cruise missiles Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG, guided bombs AASM Hammer, and ASMP-A missiles with a thermonuclear warhead available only to France.
This impressive arsenal significantly enhances the combat capabilities of the Rafale, even though it is not manufactured with stealth technology. This, coupled with France’s relatively liberal approach to exporting armaments compared to, for example, the USA, which requires appropriate foreign policy conduct, has made the Rafale a choice for many countries wanting to maintain independence from American influences while simultaneously acquiring better equipment than Russian alternatives.
