India and France have concluded negotiations for the acquisition of 26 Rafale M fighter jets, a contract valued at $7.6 billion. The official signing is expected to take place in April 2025, coinciding with the French Defense Minister’s visit to India.
As the winner of the MRCBF (Multi-Role Carrier-Borne Fighters) program, the Indian Navy will integrate Dassault Aviation’s Rafale M to replace its aging fleet of Russian MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB naval fighters, currently serving with INAS 300 “White Tigers” and INAS 303 “Black Panthers” squadrons.
The new aircraft will operate from the INS Vikrant and potentially from the INS Vikramaditya, pending a possible second contract. India originally acquired 45 MiG-29K/KUB jets, indicating that more carrier-based fighters may be needed for a full replacement.
While specific contract details have yet to be officially confirmed, reports suggest that all 26 fighters will be single-seat aircraft, and Indian Navy pilots will undergo training in France and on advanced flight simulators installed in India.
In addition to training in France, reports indicate that Indian naval pilots will also train at INS Hansa in Goa, using state-of-the-art simulators. However, the final training structure is still awaiting official confirmation.
© 2025, GDC. © GDC and www.globaldefensecorp.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to www.globaldefensecorp.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
