India’s strategic defence partnership with France appears poised for a major expansion. A recent report by the French financial daily La Tribune indicates that New Delhi is considering a new order for 31 Dassault Rafale Marine (Rafale M) fighter jets for the Indian Navy.
This potential acquisition is reportedly being discussed alongside the progress of the Indian Air Force’s separate procurement program for 114 multi-role fighter aircraft.
If this new proposal is approved, it would supplement the 26 Rafale M jets that India officially ordered in April 2025.
That previous contract, valued at approximately ₹63,000 crore, included 22 single-seat variants and four twin-seat trainer aircraft.
Bringing in an additional 31 jets would raise the Indian Navy’s total projected Rafale fleet to 57 aircraft, a number that aligns with the service's long-standing operational requirements for its carrier battle groups.
Such an expansion would represent a significant shift in the global balance of naval aviation.
Currently, the French Navy operates 41 Rafale Marine aircraft. If India secures a total of 57 jets, it would surpass France to become the largest operator of the Rafale M variant in the world.
This scale would provide the Indian Navy with substantial interoperability advantages, given that the Indian Air Force already operates the land-based version of the fighter.
The Indian Navy has maintained a requirement for 57 carrier-borne fighters for several years to ensure robust air wings for its aircraft carriers.
While the initial order in 2025 was trimmed to 26 units to meet immediate needs, the geopolitical landscape and the operational demands of maintaining continuous presence in the Indian Ocean Region may be driving the decision to revisit the original number.
These aircraft are intended to operate primarily from INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously constructed aircraft carrier. The induction of the Rafale M is seen as a critical step in enhancing the carrier’s offensive capabilities.
Furthermore, the fleet could also be deployed from INS Vikramaditya, the carrier acquired from Russia, ensuring that both of India's capital ships have access to modern 4.5-generation fighter capabilities.
Looking toward the future, the Indian government has outlined ambitions to construct a third aircraft carrier to ensure maritime dominance.
A larger pool of Rafale M fighters would be essential to sustain the air wing strength required for a three-carrier force, allowing for rotation, maintenance, and simultaneous deployments across different maritime theatres.
