The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved a nearly ₹63,000 crore deal to buy 26 Rafale-M fighter jets from France for the Indian Navy.
The deal includes 22 single-seater jets for aircraft carriers and 4 twin-seater trainer jets.
The contract is expected to be finalized later this month during the French Defence Minister's visit.
Another deal for 3 Scorpene-class submarines is still awaiting CCS approval.
Jet delivery will start in 3.5 years and finish in about 6.5 years.
The Indian Air Force already operates 36 Rafale jets from a previous deal in 2016.
The Indian Navy tested the Rafale-M jets on the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle during a recent exercise.
The Navy currently has two aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya (Procured from Russia) and INS Vikrant (indigenous).
Rafale-M
Designed and built by Dassault Aviation, a French aerospace company.
Features:
Multi-role, 4+ generation fighter aircraft with advanced avionics and AESA radar.
Capable of deep strikes, air defense, reconnaissance, and maritime operations.
Equipped with advanced armaments like Meteor, Multi-mission air-to-air missile system (MICA), SCALP missiles, and EXOCET anti-ship weapons.
Differences from Air Force Rafale:
Heavier airframe due to additional reinforcements for naval operations.
Optimized radar and electronic warfare systems for maritime applications.
Enhanced landing capabilities for Catapult Assisted Take-Off Barrier Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) and Short Take-Off, Barrier Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) systems.
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