In a significant advancement in Indo-French defense cooperation, the Indian government has inked an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA), worth ₹63,000 Cr., with its French counterpart to acquire 26 Rafale-M multirole fighter aircraft for the Indian Navy. The deal encompasses 22 single-seat variants and four twin-seat variants, tailored for naval operations, and is a strategic move to augment India’s maritime air combat capabilities.
The IGA, signed on April 28, 2025, at Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi, is also aimed at bolstering the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. As such, it includes a major Transfer of Technology, local production of fuselage, and MRO facilities. Furthermore, both parties have also agreed to share weapons, simulators, and training.
The Inter-Governmental Agreement was executed in the presence of the Indian Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart, Mr. Sébastien Lecornu, with notable attendees, including the Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh and the Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, Éric Trappier, who expressed his admiration on being a trusted and dedicated partner of Indian Armed Forces for over seven decades.
“On behalf of Dassault Aviation and its partners, I would like to thank the Indian authorities, with whom we have been working for more than 70 years, for their confidence in us and reaffirm our unwavering determination to stand by their side to contribute to India’s expression of its sovereign power, its strategic challenges and its ambitious vision of the future,” – Éric Trappier, Chairman and CEO, Dassault Aviation
Understanding The Rafale-M and Its Significance For The Navy
The Rafale-M is the naval variant of Dassault Rafale, the multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the French company Dassault Aviation SA. It is a carrier-based, twin-engine, multirole fighter that has been modified to allow operations from both STOBAR and CATOBAR-equipped aircraft carriers. As such, it will bolster the Indian Navy’s aerial capability as it can take flight from either INS Vikramaditya or INS Vikrant.
#DassaultAviation : Signature du contrat #Rafale Marine pour l’Indehttps://t.co/N8heA0MbNu
Signature of the Rafale Marine contract for Indiahttps://t.co/6okzTnMz5p pic.twitter.com/UpNVY71sRy— Dassault Aviation (@Dassault_OnAir) April 28, 2025
Rafale-M can also carry out optimized maritime strike and provide the Indian Navy with air superiority. It has already proven itself in various operational environments, which is why the contract also covers pilot and ground crew training, simulators, associated ground support equipment, and even advanced weaponry for the multirole fighter, as part of the Inter-Governmental Agreement. The ₹63,000 Cr agreement also includes provisions to supply additional equipment for the existing fleet of Rafale aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF), ensuring interoperability and unified logistics across services.
How Does The Inter-Governmental Agreement Serve The Strategic Needs Of The Armed Forces?
The IGA, in line with the national “Make In India” policy and the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, puts extra emphasis on technology transfer, including the integration of indigenously developed weapon systems onboard the Rafale-M. It also looks into long-term strategic needs of the Indian Navy, and insists on a production facility for Rafale fuselage, which will be established domestically. Furthermore, it covers the basics, such as Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) centers for aircraft engines, avionics sensors, and onboard weapons systems, which will truly make the Armed Forces more robust and independent.
Boosting Naval Aviation Capabilities With Rafale-M
The 26 Rafale-M fighters are expected to be delivered by 2030 and will be a force multiplier for the Indian Navy, especially in its aircraft carrier-based operations. The commonality with the Rafale fighters being operated by the Indian Air Force will also boost joint operational capability, emphasizing an optimized training and logistics support for both the Navy and the Air Force.
India and France have signed a landmark Inter-Governmental Agreement for the procurement of 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets (22 single-seaters and 4 twin-seaters) for the @indiannavy, along with weapons, simulators, and training. The deal, signed by Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh… pic.twitter.com/IK1rsc8yCZ
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) April 28, 2025
IGA Strengthening The Indo-French Ties
This landmark defense agreement comes in the wake of the announcement in July 2023, when India became the first user of the Rafale-M outside France. This goes to show the government’s satisfaction with the aircraft’s capabilities and its desire to broaden the spectrum of its operational use.
The IGA also follows a long history of strategic defense partnerships between India and France, with earlier milestones including the Scorpène-class submarines under the Project 75 program and the IAF’s Rafale fighter acquisition.
