From precision strikes to nuclear deterrence, how 26 Rafales can be a game-changer for Navy

The Modi government has cleared a ₹64,000-crore proposal to buy 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets from France for deployment on board INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously-built aircraft carrier that was commissioned in September 2022.The move is expected to provide a significant boost to India’s naval prowess as it seeks to counter China’s growing footprint in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).Manufactured by French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation, the 4.5-generation Rafale is a combat-proven fighter jet with a capability to deliver even nuclear weapons.The Indian Air Force (IAF) currently operates two squadrons (each with 18 aircraft) of Rafale, one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world.The naval version of Rafale, called Rafale-M, is designed for STOBAR (short takeoff but arrested recovery) operations from aircraft carriers.What will India get under this deal?The government accorded the initial approval for the mega acquisition in July 2023, following a series of discussions and extensive evaluation of the warplane.The order cleared by the PM Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) includes 22 single-seater Rafale-M jets and four twin-seater trainer aircraft. Besides these, the Indian Navy will get ancillary equipment, including weapon systems and spares from Dassault Aviation.The deal also includes maintenance of the 36 Rafale fighters India bought for its Air Force under a ₹59,000-crore deal in 2016, officials told Bloomberg.The delivery of the 26 Rafale-M jets will commence five years after the signing of the contract under an inter-governmental framework between India and France. medium120253569Why did Navy pick Rafale-M?Rafale-M had a strong contender in the form of US-made Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet for the Indian Navy deal. But the French aircraft came out in flying colours in all the trials, including the ski-jump tests, the Navy had put it through.The ski-jump test involves a ramp, which replicates the catapult launch gear used in STOBAR operations by Indian aircraft carriers.The Navy currently operates Russian-made MiG-29Ks, which are deployed onboard INS Vikramaditya, India’s second aircraft carrier.Interoperability with IAF’s Rafales was a key factor driving the Navy’s choice for Rafale-M fighter jets. “Shared airframes, avionics, training simulators, and munitions between IAF and Naval Rafales [will] reduce logistical burden and ensure jointness in operations, allowing cross-service deployment in emergencies,” Group Captain MJ Augustine Vinod (retd), a defence analyst, writes for The Eurasian Times.While India is also indigenously developing a Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) for its aircraft carriers, the procurement of French jets is expected to help plug the Navy’s capability gaps. medium nocaptionhttp://youtu.be/Dd3WInzsqYA?si=YAwMMkM4jXi9QY4rWhen Rafale-M displayed air defence skillsIndia and France last month successfully completed the 23rd edition of their joint naval exercise, ‘Varuna’, which featured complex manoeuvres by platforms across underwater, surface and air domains.A key feature of this year’s exercise was the participation of Rafale-M of the French Navy and MiG-29K of the Indian Navy, which conducted advanced air defence drills, simulating realistic combat scenarios.India deployed its aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, a Kalvari-class submarine and other warships, while a French carrier strike group led by nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle took part in the exercise in the Arabian Sea.These drills strengthened “the collective capacity to address contemporary maritime security challenges”, an Indian Navy spokesperson said.An upswing in India-France defence tiesThe Modi government’s approval of the Rafale-M deal brings France closer to Russia, historically India’s largest arms supplier, which has reduced deliveries due to sanctions imposed over its war in Ukraine.The IAF bought 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in fly-away condition and there is a view that it should go for at least two more squadrons of Rafale jets.Notably, India emerged as the biggest buyer of French military hardware between 2020 and 2024, followed by Qatar, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.In July 2023, India and France announced several defence cooperation projects, including the joint development of jet and helicopter engines.Under the Navy’s Kalvari-class Project 75, six Scorpene submarines have already been built by the state-owned Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL) in collaboration with France’s Naval Group. medium120253136Can India catch up with China?India is sailing far behind China, which boasts the world’s largest Navy, with over 370 ships and submarines, including 140 major surface combatants.Additionally, China is building its naval assets at an astonishing scale, while its People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-Navy) has stepped up forays into the IOR.In contrast, India is considering spending ₹2 lakh crore over the next decade to increase its warship strength to 175 from around 130 currently. The Navy also plans to add 500 aircraft and 24 attack submarines to the current strength of 251 aircraft and 15 underwater platforms.The Navy has received the initial approval or ‘acceptance of necessity’ (AoN) for 31 warships, including seven new-generation frigates, eight corvettes and six stealth diesel-electric submarines, as reported by TOI earlier.It, however, will reach a force-level of just about 155-160 warships by 2030, given the slow pace of construction in Indian shipyards as well as the progressive decommissioning of older warships.With inputs from agencies