India and France sign ₹63K-cr Rafale M deal

India on Monday signed a ₹63,000 crore deal with France to buy 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for the navy which will operate them from its two aircraft carriers, with deliveries expected to begin in three years and be completed by 2030.

- Rahul Singh

NEW DELHI:

The government-to-government deal for 22 single-seat Rafale M fighters and four twin-seat trainers includes the setting up of a local production facility for the jet's fuselage as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities for engines, sensors and weapons in India, the defence ministry said.

"In line with the government's thrust on Atmanirbhar Bharat, the agreement includes transfer of technology for integration of indigenous weapons in India," it added in a statement.

The Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the deal in early April to boost the Indian Navy's capabilities in the Indo-Pacific. The copies of the inter-governmental agreement, signed by defence minister Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu, were exchanged by Indian and French officials in the presence of defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at Nausena Bhawan.

The deal includes training, simulators, associated equipment, weapons and performance-based logistics along with additional equipment for the Indian Air Force's Rafale fleet.