Cabinet clears Rs 64,000 crore Rafale deal to get 26 marine jets
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, gave its final nod for the deal to procure 26 Rafale Marine (Rafale-M) fighter jets from France at a cost of about Rs 64,000 crore for the Indian Navy.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) already operates 36 Rafale jets.
Rafale-M is the naval variant of the Dassault Rafale fighter jet, specifically designed for carrier-based operations and can carry about 9.5 tonnes of weapons, fuel tanks and pods.
The deal makes India the “first country to make the same military choice as France by operating both versions of the aircraft to help consolidate its superiority in the air and on the seas and guarantee its sovereignty,” according to Rafale maker Dassault Aviation.
According to media reports, the deal—22 single-seater and four double-seater jets—is likely to be formalised in the coming days.
These will be deployed on India’s indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, which can carry up to 30 aircraft, including fixed-wing fighter jets like MiG-29K and Rafale-M, as well as helicopters such as MH-60R, Kamov Ka-31, and the Advanced Light Helicopters.