Rafale M
India and France signed a landmark $7.5 billion deal on April 28, 2025, for 26 Rafale M fighter jets, marking the biggest defence agreement ever between the two nations. Finalised in New Delhi, the deal aims to strengthen India’s naval aviation by arming its aircraft carriers—INS Vikrant and Vikramaditya—with modern, multirole combat jets.
China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean has made maritime security a top priority for India, coinciding with the Rafale M purchase. With tensions rising in the region, the Indian Navy is betting on these carrier-capable jets to boost its ability to respond quickly and effectively at sea.
But the hefty price tag—around $288 million per aircraft—has stirred debate. Many are asking whether such a massive investment in a fourth-generation jet makes sense when fifth-generation fighters, like the American F-35C, are available at a lower cost and come with stealth capabilities.
Made by Dassault Aviation, the Rafale M is the naval version of France’s proven Rafale fighter. It’s specially designed for tough carrier operations, including take-offs and landings in demanding sea conditions. India’s order includes 22 single-seat jets for carrier use and 4 twin-seat trainers for land-based operations.
What India is paying for goes beyond just aircraft. The deal includes advanced weapons, flight simulators, and full technology transfer—along with training for Indian crews and a five-year logistics support package. These elements aim to boost India’s long-term self-reliance and ensure the fighters are mission-ready from day one.
Russian and French Fighters
Despite operating 40 Russian-made MiG-29Ks, many view the Rafale M as an essential upgrade. The new jets promise greater reliability, better systems, and closer defensive ties with a European ally. For now, India is filling a capability gap while it continues developing its own Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF), expected to be ready only by the mid-2030s. Until then, the Rafale M will play a crucial role.
According to India’s Ministry of Defence, deliveries will commence in mid-2028 and conclude by 2030. The deal comes after India bought 36 Rafale jets from France in 2016 for a total of almost $8 billion. This transaction shows how much India depends on French military equipment. India chose to buy the Rafale M because it needs to update its naval aviation capabilities right away. India bought 40 Russian-made MiG-29K jets between 2009 and 2014 for a total of $2 billion.
The MiG-29K jets stationed on INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya have experienced operational issues, technical problems, and supply shortages, which have been exacerbated by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Retired Admiral Arun Prakash
“Right now we have the MiG-29K…” “It’s been almost 15 years, and the country where it came from is at war, so it’s not in a good position to provide operational support,” retired Admiral Arun Prakash, who used to be Chief of Naval Staff, told NDTV.
The Rafale M was chosen over the U.S.-made F/A-18 Super Hornet after extensive tests in 2022. It shares many parts with the Rafale fleet of the Indian Air Force, which makes maintenance easier and reduces the need for spares.
The Rafale M is a powerful 4.5-generation multirole fighter that can take to the air, launch precise attacks, fight ships, and spy on other ships. The jet has two Safran M88-2 engines, and each one gives it 16,860 pounds of thrust. Its top speed is Mach 1.8, and with external fuel tanks, it can travel over 1,850 kilometres in combat.
Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery
The Rafale can fly on Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) carriers like INS Vikrant because of its stronger landing gear, folding wings, and tailhook. However, the carriers need to be modified to fit the Rafale’s longer wingspan. The active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar on the jet makes it easier to find and follow targets, and the Spectra electronic warfare suite protects it well from missile attacks.
The Meteor air-to-air missile has a range of 120–150 kilometres, the Exocet AM39 anti-ship missile can hit ships, and the SCALP cruise missile can hit targets on the ground precisely. In line with its “Make in India” initiative, India has also made sure that its own weapons, like the Astra Mk1 air-to-air missile and the Rudram anti-radiation missile, are built in.
U.S. Navy’s F-35C
But the price of the deal is what people are most interested in. The Rafale M is one of the most expensive fighter jets ever exported, costing $288 million each. It is pricier than many fifth-generation platforms. The U.S. Navy’s F-35C stealth-capable carrier-based fighter can cost as little as $120-150 million for the base model and as much as $200-250 million for fully equipped versions.
In India’s trials, the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet is a direct competitor to the Rafale M. Each unit costs between $70 and $100 million, while the Russian Su-35 is a land-based 4.5-generation fighter that costs about $85 million. Not only does the Rafale M cost a lot—around $100 to 120 million per unit—but it also comes with many extras, like weapons, spare parts, training, and infrastructure.
India’s agreement also calls for technology transfers and the construction of a facility for producing Rafale fuselages, as well as maintenance, repair, and overhaul centres for weapons, sensors, and engines. These extras raise the total cost.
Chinese J-15 fighters
India’s strategic thinking is based on changes in regional security, especially China’s growing naval assertiveness. China currently has three aircraft carriers: the Liaoning, the Shandong, and the more advanced Fujian. There are plans to add more in the future. The carrier stations almost 60 J-15 fighters. Although these fighters lack stealth capabilities, they receive support from fourth-generation J-11 jets.
China’s military base in Djibouti and its logistical facilities in Pakistan give it more power in the Indian Ocean. This made India step up its maritime defences. “We haven’t seen a Chinese task force in our waters because they don’t have air cover,” Admiral Prakash told NDTV, warning that China’s use of carriers with built-in air wings could soon make India less dominant in the region.
With its advanced avionics and long-range weapons, the Rafale M is considered a key tool for projecting power and protecting important sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific.
France’s involvement in the deal goes beyond business and shows a larger alignment in geopolitics. India purchased Mirage 2000 jets in the 1980s and ordered Scorpene-class submarines in 2005. The agreement builds on decades of defence cooperation.
European Defence Autonomy
The Rafale is a counterweight to U.S.-dominated platforms like the F-35. French President Emmanuel Macron, who advocates European defence autonomy, designed it to appeal to countries that avoided American or Chinese technology. Dassault Aviation relies on high-margin export deals to keep production going because it doesn’t get many orders from inside France.
Indonesia bought 18 Rafales from the company in 2024, and Serbia bought 12 of them. In 2021, the United Arab Emirates paid $19 billion for 80 of them. Dassault CEO Eric Trappier and Indian Joint Secretary Dinesh Kumar signed the Indian contract. It has offset clauses that require 50% of the contract value, or $3.75 billion, to be reinvested in India. These measures will help Indian defence manufacturers.
F-8 Crusader and the Mirage 2000.
The Rafale programme has always been an important part of France’s defence strategy. The Rafale, which came out in 2001, was made to replace old French planes like the F-8 Crusader and the Mirage 2000.
The naval version, the Rafale M, was first used on the carrier Charles de Gaulle. Combat in Afghanistan, Libya, and Syria has demonstrated its versatility in high-intensity situations. The first Rafale planes that India bought were part of a controversial deal for 36 planes for the air force in 2016. Despite accusations of corruption, India’s Supreme Court upheld the deal in 2019.
After tests at INS Hansa in Goa, the navy chose the Rafale M in July 2023. This purchase marked the first export order for the naval version, a major accomplishment for Dassault. To keep up with rising demand around the world, the company plans to increase production to three planes per month by 2025 and then to four by 2028.
The Rafale M has outstanding tech features, but they don’t meet fifth-gen standards. The F-35C has stealth, sensor fusion, and network-centric warfare features. The Rafale M uses advanced avionics and electronic warfare to compensate for its lack of those features.
India’s open software architecture allows for the addition of better radar warning receivers and low-band jammers. However, its airframe from the 1990s makes it less flexible than newer designs.
Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter
China is developing the FC-31, a stealth fighter capable of operating on a carrier. Although untested, India’s Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) could rival the Rafale M in regional importance by the 2030s.
India won’t deploy the 4.5-generation TEDBF for at least ten years, so it is using the Rafale M as a stopgap. Observers have compared the deal’s price to other major defence investments. For $7.5 billion, India could have bought more F/A-18 Super Hornets or accelerated the development of its air force platforms, such as the TEDBF or the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
The choice of the Rafale M shows a balance between short-term operational needs and long-term strategic goals. India will have 62 Rafales by 2030, with 36 for the Air Force and 26 for the Navy. Shared logistics and “buddy-buddy” aerial refuelling systems will make it easier for the two armed forces to work together.
Using Indian weapons and local factories together is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” plan. The initiative could create thousands of jobs and encourage partnerships with Indian companies like Reliance Group, which teamed up with Dassault in 2016.
Conclusion
For people in the United States, the deal shows how complicated the global arms trade is. The U.S. F-35 remains the top fighter, but France proves others can still secure big global contracts. France’s Rafale M deal shows nations want independent defence choices, not just American platforms.
The Rafale M’s cost is high, but it includes training, support, and operational readiness. India’s purchase goes beyond jets—it signals a shift in power toward France in the Indo-Pacific. This mo This move also questions America’s long-time dominance in premium defence markets. India is boosting its naval air power with Rafale M carrier jets.
However, it’s unclear if the Rafale M’s cost matches its long-term strategic value. India may be paying more for political alignment than cutting-edge capability. New tech—like drones and AI—could soon make piloted fighters less relevant. Will the Rafale M endure future threats, or will it demand costly upgrades to stay relevant?
References
- Dassault Aviation – Rafale Marine
- Indian Ministry of Defence – Press Releases
- NDTV—India Signs Deal for 26 Rafale Marine Jets
- Defense News Today – Rafale M Deal Analysis
- The Hindu—India’s Naval Aviation Needs and Rafale M
- Reuters – Dassault’s Rafale Exports
- France 24—France, India Military Cooperation
- U.S. Government Accountability Office – F-35 Program Costs
- Naval News—India’s Aircraft Carrier Programme
- India Today – TEDBF and AMCA Project Updates
- Dassault Aviation – Rafale M Official Page
https://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/defense/rafale/ - Indian Ministry of Defence – Procurement Announcements
https://mod.gov.in/ - Naval News – Rafale M Carrier Operations
https://www.navalnews.com/ - Jane’s Defence – Rafale M Specifications
https://www.janes.com/ - The Diplomat – India’s Naval Aviation Modernisation
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