Rafale-M Jets

Rafale-M Jets Latest News

Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by the Prime Minister, approved a ₹63,000-crore deal for procuring 26 Rafale-M fighter jets from France for the Indian Navy.

Background

• Initially, under the MMRCA tender (2007), India planned to acquire 126 jets with technology transfer, which was shelved in 2015.
• A direct deal in 2016 led to 36 Rafale jets for the IAF, delivered between 2019-2022.

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Details of the Deal

• The deal includes 22 single-seater Rafale-M jets for carrier operations and 4 twin-seater trainer variants, which are non-carrier compatible.
• The jets are meant to operate from INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, India’s two operational aircraft carriers.
• The agreement is expected to be signed during the upcoming visit of the French Defence Minister.

About the Rafale Fighter Jet

• Dassault Rafale is a 4.5 generation, twin-engine, delta-wing, multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by Dassault Aviation.
• Capable of Sps up to Mach 1.8 and a combat radius exceeding 1000 km.
• Designed for air superiority, ground support, reconnaissance, and anti-ship missions.

Key Features and Avionics

• Equipped with RBE2 AESA radar, SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, front sector optronics, and omnidirectional warning systems.
• Powered by 2 SNECMA M88 turbofan engines, providing supercruise capability (supersonic flight without afterburners).
• 14 hardpoints can carry external payloads up to 9,500 kg.

Rafale Variants

• Rafale C: Single-seat Air Force version.
• Rafale B: Twin-seat version for training with full combat capability.
• Rafale M: Naval variant, designed for carrier-based operations, with reinforced landing gear and tailhook for short-deck landings.
• Other variants include Rafale N (nuclear strike) and Rafale R (research and development).

Rafale-M Jets FAQs

Q1. What are Rafale-M jets?
Ans. French-origin carrier-based multirole fighter jets used by the Indian Navy, capable of nuclear delivery and equipped with Meteor missiles and AESA radar.

Q2. Why did India procure Rafale-M?
Ans. To enhance naval airpower for INS Vikrant, counter China’s carrier fleet in the Indo-Pacific, and replace aging MiG-29Ks.

Q3. What distinguishes Rafale-M from IAF’s Rafales?
Ans. Reinforced landing gear, tail hooks for carrier landings, and foldable wings for compact storage on aircraft carriers.

Q4. What controversies surrounded the deal?
Ans. Allegations of procedural violations (offset clauses) and high costs (₹60,000 crore for 26 jets), raised in Parliament in 2023.

Q5. How does Rafale-M support ‘Make in India’?
Ans. Dassault-Reliance JV manufactures 30% components domestically, boosting defense indigenization under the Strategic Partnership model.

Source: TH