New Delhi, Oct. 30 -- India's naval aviation capabilities received a significant boost after the French-made Rafale Marine fighter jet successfully completed its first landing on the country's indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on Thursday, marking a major milestone in the aircraft's testing and integration with the Indian Navy.
The successful touchdown on its maiden attempt was confirmed by Indian Navy officials. Developed by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, the Rafale Marine, also known as Rafale M, is a 4.5-generation, twin-engine, multi-role fighter designed specifically for operations from aircraft carriers.
Its airframe has been strengthened to withstand the intense forces associated with carrier-based operations, including ski-jump take-offs and arrested landings. The aircraft can undertake a range of missions, including air superiority, maritime strikes, reconnaissance, surveillance and electronic warfare.
Equipped to carry advanced air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons, including Meteor and MICA missiles, the fighter is expected to strengthen the Navy's ability to protect aircraft carrier groups and engage hostile maritime targets.
India signed a government-to-government agreement with France in April 2025 for the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft at an estimated cost of Rs 63,000 crore. The package includes 22 single-seat combat aircraft and four twin-seat trainer variants. The aircraft will primarily operate from India's two aircraft carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
The successful landing followed trials at the Navy's Shore-Based Test Facility at INS Hansa in Goa, where the aircraft reportedly underwent ski-jump take-off and arrested landing exercises to simulate carrier operations. Such tests are essential to assess the aircraft's suitability for deployment from naval carriers before its induction.
Deliveries are expected to begin around 2028-29 and be completed by 2030.
The acquisition will address an important requirement of the Navy, which currently operates Russian-origin MiG-29K fighters from its aircraft carriers. The Rafale M is expected to provide an advanced addition to the existing fleet, improving operational flexibility, combat readiness and the ability to sustain air operations during extended maritime deployments.
The induction also carries strategic significance amid China's expanding naval presence and growing activity across the Indo-Pacific. Strengthening carrier-based aviation is central to India's efforts to safeguard maritime security and protect vital sea lines of communication in the region.
The purchase is also expected to create operational synergies with the Indian Air Force, which operates 36 land-based Rafale fighters. Common systems, maintenance practices, training and logistics could facilitate coordination between the two services, although the naval variant requires specialised modifications for carrier operations.
The agreement also envisages technology transfer, integration of Indian-made weapons, domestic production of Rafale fuselages and facilities for maintaining engines and weapons.
The Rafale M acquisition is being viewed as an interim capability enhancement as India pursues the development of its indigenous Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF). While the latter represents the Navy's long-term ambition for a domestically developed carrier-based fighter, the French aircraft is expected to meet its immediate operational requirements.
The successful landing on INS Vikrant thus marks an important step towards strengthening India's carrier-based combat capability and maritime presence in the Indian Ocean Region.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.