NEW DELHI: Defense Ministry proclaimed here Monday (28th April, 2025) that India has signed a $ 7.4 billion deal to buy French airplane-maker Dassault Aviation‘s 26 (four twin-seater and 22 single-seater) Rafale fighters for its Navy.
It is pertinent to mention here that Indian Air Force presently possesses thirty-six Rafale fighters, which too were acquired to modernise its military equipment. Since its Naval aircraft fleet presently harbours MiG-29 K jets, the addition of twenty-six Rafales will enormously enhance its capabilities, which the country believes is necessary due to China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean over the last many years.
Commenting on the 26 Rafale jets, that will operate from India-made aircraft carriers, the Defense Ministry here stated: “The Rafale-Marine is a carrier-borne combat-ready aircraft with proven operational capabilities in a maritime environment. The delivery of these aircraft would be completed by 2030, with the crew undergoing training in France and India.” It may be recalled that the deal was first announced in 2023 during PM Modi’s France visit.
India is not only concentrating on producing military hardware domestically but is also seeking to modernise its military in a number of ways, for instance, by phasing out machinery earlier purchased from Russia. The signing of the Rafale deal at this point of time is also particularly significant when two nuclear states (India and Pakistan) are dagger drawn these days following the killing of 26 tourists in Pahalgam (situated in the IOK).
(Text and Photo by M. M. Alam)
Newspakistan.tv
