Rafale M

Why in News?  The Rafale M has been in the news recently due to a significant defense deal finalized between India and France recently. India signed a Rs 63,000 crore (approximately $7.4 billion) agreement to procure 26 Rafale-Marine (Rafale M) fighter jets for the Indian Navy, marking one of the largest defense deals between the two nations.

This deal, approved by India’s Cabinet Committee on Security earlier in April 2025, aims to bolster the Indian Navy’s capabilities amid growing regional tensions, particularly with China’s expanding presence in the Indian Ocean and ongoing friction with Pakistan.

Relevance : Pre & Mains

Prelims– Rafale-Marine (Rafale M)/ Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF)  

Mains- GS Papers  II & III /Security

About the Rafale M:

The Rafale M is the naval variant of the Rafale fighter jet, a 4.5-generation multirole aircraft developed by the French company Dassault Aviation. Here are the key details:

Purpose and Design:

• Specifically designed for carrier-based operations, the Rafale M is equipped to operate from aircraft carriers like India’s INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. It features modifications such as a reinforced undercarriage, a tail hook for arrested landings, and folding wings for compact storage on carriers.
• It is a multirole fighter capable of air defense, anti-shipping strikes, ground attacks, and electronic warfare. It can also carry nuclear-capable missiles, enhancing its strategic deterrence role.

Specifications:

• • The Rafale M is equipped with advanced systems like the AESA radar and Meteor air-to-air missiles, which provide superior detection and engagement capabilities.
  • It can supercruise (fly at supersonic speeds without afterburners), improving fuel efficiency during extended missions.
  • The aircraft can carry advanced weaponry, including the SCALP cruise missile for precision strikes on hardened targets over 250 km away, as well as indigenous Indian weapons like the Astra air-to-air missile and Rudram anti-radiation missile, which will be integrated into the jets under the recent deal.

India’s Procurement:

• The deal includes 22 single-seater Rafale M jets for carrier operations and four twin-seater trainer variants for training purposes.
• Deliveries are scheduled to begin in mid-2028 and be completed by 2030. The jets will replace the Navy’s aging MiG-29K fleet, which has faced performance and reliability issues.
• The Rafale M was selected over the Boeing F-18 Super Hornet due to its advanced technology, maintenance advantages, and commonality with the 36 Rafale jets already operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF), which simplifies logistics and training.

Strategic Importance:

The acquisition enhances India’s naval aviation capabilities, particularly for its two aircraft carriers, INS Vikrant (indigenously built) and INS Vikramaditya (procured from Russia). This is crucial in the Indo-Pacific region, where China’s naval expansion, including its military base in Djibouti and dual-purpose vessels in the Indian Ocean, poses a challenge.

• The Rafale M strengthens India’s deterrence against regional adversaries like China and Pakistan, especially in light of recent tensions, such as the Pahalgam terror attack linked to Pakistan.
• It serves as a stop-gap measure until India’s indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF), being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), becomes operational, likely in the 2030s.