India to buy 26 Rafale marine fighter jets from France; Deal worth Rs 63 thousand crore finalized for Navy

India has approved the mega-deal from France to buy 26 Rafale marine fighter jets. This government deal is worth over Rs 63,000 crore and will be signed soon. According to news agency ANI, quoting government sources, in this deal, the Indian Navy will receive 22 single-seat and four twin-seat aircraft.

According to Jagran sources, the proposed deal to buy 26 Rafale M fighter jets from France is likely to be finalized after getting approval from the Prime Minister-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) this month.

The delivery of the aircraft will start from the end of 2029. India will get the entire consignment by 2031. These Rifle-M aircraft will be operated from aircraft carriers like INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. Both naval ships carry out their missions with the old MiG 29K fighter aircraft.

According to reports, talks were going on between the two countries for several months regarding the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine jets. India wanted to deal for Rafale Marine for the Navy at the same price that India had kept while purchasing 36 aircraft for the Air Force in 2016.

Information about this deal was first revealed during PM Modi's visit to France in 2023. After this, the Ministry of Defense issued a letter of request, which was accepted by France in December 2023. Earlier in September 2016, India had purchased 36 Rafale fighter aircraft from France for the Air Force. This deal was fixed at Rs 59 thousand crore.