India Set to Acquire 26 Rafale-M Jets, 3 Scorpène Submarines from France, Deal to be Finalized During PM Modi's February Visit for AI Summit

India-France defence relations are poised for a significant boost as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to finalize the purchase of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets and three additional Scorpène-class submarines during his visit to Paris in February.

This visit coincides with the AI Action Summit, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, which aims to leverage artificial intelligence for global development.

Last month, India's Ministry of Defence approved the acquisition of these 26 Rafale-M jets, along with three more Scorpène-class submarines, from France. The Rafale-M deal, a government-to-government agreement, includes 22 single-seat jets and 4 twin-seat trainers.

The deal also encompasses comprehensive support packages, including equipment, weapons, simulators, spare parts, crew training, and logistical support.

The Rafale-M deal is estimated to be worth around ₹50,000 crore. A government source stated, "This deal is estimated to cost around ₹50,000 crore, with jet deliveries expected to commence approximately three years after the contract is signed." This acquisition will significantly enhance the Indian Navy's capabilities, particularly for operations from its aircraft carriers.

The addition of three more Scorpène submarines will further strengthen India's naval prowess, augmenting its existing fleet and providing a strategic edge in maritime security in the Indian Ocean region.

These submarines, part of Project 75, will be built at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai, reinforcing India's commitment to local manufacturing under the 'Make in India' initiative.

This impending deal signifies a deepening of the strategic partnership between India and France, particularly in the realm of defence cooperation. The acquisition of Rafale-M jets and Scorpène submarines will significantly bolster India's defence capabilities and contribute to maintaining a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region.

 

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[sanket]

This year is full of excitement, from 26 Naval Rafale fighter jets, 3 Scorpene-class deals, Astra MK2 procurement, selecting a foreign partner for AMCA's 110 kN engine and signing a deal for it, induction of Tejas MK1A jets followed by the GE-414 engine deal signing for manufacturing under 80% ToT. But the question is, will Dassault be able to deliver the first Rafale M within 3 years of signing the deal, with the order backlog soaring to an all-time high of over 200 plus fighter jets?

 

[Admiral kanhoji angre]

This has to happen. Better than later.

 

[Neal.B]

Number should have been 57, if not at least 36. Again we are losing the game with 26 only.

 

[Anant]

Number should have been 57, if not at least 36. Again we are losing the game with 26 only.

True, but right now, we are at the point where every little bit helps. The MiG-29K fleet is aging, and unless TEDBF comes online on schedule, we will be facing this same problem in ten years where we have one good carrier air wimg, one obsolete carrier air wing due for retirement, and two (maybe even three) carriers to distribute these among.

 

[Rational Guy]

With this Indian Navy will have air dominance in IOR for next 15-20 years at least until Chinese nuclear aircraft carrier with J35 start coming to IOR. By then I hope we have AMCA in operation and also deployed hypersonic anti ship missiles.

 

[PKPRS]

Hope we get the first Rafale-M by 2035 when Chinese fly hundreds of 6th gen jets.

 

[Harihar Pai]

True, but right now, we are at the point where every little bit helps. The MiG-29K fleet is aging, and unless TEDBF comes online on schedule, we will be facing this same problem in ten years where we have one good carrier air wimg, one obsolete carrier air wing due for retirement, and two (maybe even three) carriers to distribute these among.

India operates two aircraft carriers, each capable of carrying 40 aircraft during wartime and 20 during peacetime. This means a total of 80 aircraft are required for wartime operations, while 40 are needed for peacetime. Currently, India has 40 MiG-29Ks and new 26 Rafales will be coming, totalling 66 aircraft—leaving a shortfall of 14 aircraft to meet wartime needs.( I am not considering 20 more aircrafts for reserve. About 100 tedbf will be replacing these aircraft in another 20 years.)

At any given time, approximately 20 MiG-29Ks (50% availability) and 20 Rafales( maintaining an availability rate of over 70%) are available. This aligns with the peacetime requirement of 40 aircraft across both carriers.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Number should have been 57, if not at least 36. Again we are losing the game with 26 only.

Yes with 26 a follow on clause should have been signed.

 

[Somnath Sinhababu]

Only 26....IN requirement was for 57 units...do you know the size of Chinese Naval Fleet....What about IAF...What is the future of IAF...They are literally on death bed...Why Govt is not serious about IAF...Pakistan Air Force is going to be more stronger than IAF and our govt is just don't care...

 

[DB_NE_Guy]

India should have order more than 26. Must think beyond 2 aircraft carriers.

 

[desigandu]

Buy another 48-60 Rafales F4 along with 26 Rafales Ms, in G2G with priority deliveries starting in 3 years, all complete by 2030, and cancel MRFA!

Then beg Trump to sell us 54 F-35s, in a G2G all delivered by 2030!

This along with acceleration of Tejas Mk2, AMCA, TEDBF, kaveri2s and high thrust engine, all in place in 2030-2035 timeframe will be of great help…

 

[Sanatani Yodha]

Too little, too late….
With advancement of AI and Quantum computing, China is now decades ahead of India…. We again lost the race…. Now it will take alteast 50yrs more to catchup China…
In coming years, you will witness exponential growth n progress in weapons development in West and China as AI and Quantum computing has reduced the development cycle to the months which was used to decades before …. As India is nowhere in the field of AI and Quantum computing along with zero semiconductor capabilitie , it will remain a slave just like it became after Industrial revolution in Europe (while they were making guns at industrial scale, our Raja and Nawaabs were focusing on horse and elephant army!!)….

 

[Anant]

India operates two aircraft carriers, each capable of carrying 40 aircraft during wartime and 20 during peacetime. This means a total of 80 aircraft are required for wartime operations, while 40 are needed for peacetime. Currently, India has 40 MiG-29Ks and new 26 Rafales will be coming, totalling 66 aircraft—leaving a shortfall of 14 aircraft to meet wartime needs.( I am not considering 20 more aircrafts for reserve. About 100 tedbf will be replacing these aircraft in another 20 years.)

At any given time, approximately 20 MiG-29Ks (50% availability) and 20 Rafales( maintaining an availability rate of over 70%) are available. This aligns with the peacetime requirement of 40 aircraft across both carriers.

Sir, our carriers can manage about 36-40 aircraft apiece in total, but that includes helicopters as well. With a standard helicopter complement, a full aircraft complement would be between 26 and 32. That means one would need a maximum of 64 jets just for the carriers. Add in another 6 or so trainers plus a few attrition replacements, so you get a total requirement of between 75 and 80 aircraft.

There is no separate peacetime complement. That is just something we have invented due to a lack of aircraft. Navies base smaller airwings in peacetime, but they maintain a full carrier airwing. We don't.

Now, while we do have 40 MiG-29Ks and 26 Rafale Ms planned, and these 66 jets does technically cross the requirement of two carrier air wings at 64, these would also include nine trainers, which you ideally do not want on your carriers in wartime.

The other problem is serviceability. The MiG-29K has proven to be somewhat wanting in this regard. MiG-29K serviceability drooped down to a ridiculous low of about 47% a few years back, and is theorised to be around 70% today, which only translates to 28 MiG-29Ks being available at any point today.

The MiG-29Ks are not expected to serve beyond 2035-38, which would be 25 years since their initial entry into service. By this point, for two carriers, we would need atleast 64 jets (excluding trainers), so that is 22 Rafale Ms (the other 4 are trainers) and 32 new TEDBF jets. If we have three carriers by then, the requirement would be 96-100 jets, or 78 TEDBFs.

That is why I am saying the TEDBF cannot be delayed. It needs to come online at the earliest, or else we will be left with 26 Rafale Ms and a fleet of, at most, 40 MiG-29Ks of extremely dubious serviceability.

 

[Anant]

Hope we get the first Rafale-M by 2035 when Chinese fly hundreds of 6th gen jets.

If you bothered to read the article, it says deliveries will begin within three years of contract signing. Last I checked, this is 2025, so that means 2028. So, yeah, we will quite possibly have all 26 jets flying before 2035.

 

[R. Singh]

PM should also buy 44+ Rafale F-4 with MUMT tech !

 

[Sandeep]

Too little, too late….
With advancement of AI and Quantum computing, China is now decades ahead of India…. We again lost the race…. Now it will take alteast 50yrs more to catchup China…
In coming years, you will witness exponential growth n progress in weapons development in West and China as AI and Quantum computing has reduced the development cycle to the months which was used to decades before …. As India is nowhere in the field of AI and Quantum computing along with zero semiconductor capabilitie , it will remain a slave just like it became after Industrial revolution in Europe (while they were making guns at industrial scale, our Raja and Nawaabs were focusing on horse and elephant army!!)….

You’re factually incorrect. India ranks 4th in AI vibrancy and preparedness in the world and in quantum computing we rank 9th in the world. There’s a lot of growth and capabilities taking place at a very fast pace so the government has made the right decisions and an immense amount of progress. Now we are focusing on semi conductor production which will help us to cut down on imports in this field.

 

[Sandeep]

India needs to quickly sign the deal and start construction as soon as the deal is signed. The naval Rafale jets and Kalvari submarines are two critical projects that are over a decade late. We need more stealth submarines to replace the old Kilo class of submarines and Rafale jets that can be deployed on a current empty carrier so we can deploy it at sea.

Also we will make a deal and indigenously manufacture an Indian variant of the French F21 heavy weight torpedo which can be used on all of our Kalvari submarines. Now we will have the latest and most modern torpedo which will increase our fire power, range, accuracy and Indian technology enhancements. While it’s great that we will use these torpedo we should only manufacture a small number as India still has to design, develop and manufacture a 100% indigenous heavy weight torpedo and our research and development should continue. Manufacturing the foreign torpedo doesn’t give us all of the technology or get to manufacture it 100% indigenously with Indian content.

The other deal is to finally integrate the 100% indigenously developed and manufactured AIP module which will finally be integrated on all of the Kalvari submarines which proves that the DRDO technology works and without any problems. Very few countries have the capability, knowledge, experience or expertise to develop and manufacture the AIP technology which is a major achievement.

 

[Bikramjeet Goswami]

TEDBF cannot be delayed. It needs to come online at the earliest, or else we will be left with 26 Rafale Ms and a fleet of, at most, 40 MiG-29Ks of extremely dubious serviceability.

HAL and ADA are simultaneously working on 4 jets, Tejas Mk 1A, Tejas Mk 2, TEDBF and AMCA. Also 1 or 2 helicopter projects.
We keep talking about their delays and what not but I really doubt any company can take on so many projects simultaneously and deliver results. I mean how big is their design teams? What are their testing facilities like? India needs some aero-space companies.