New Delhi: The prowess of the Indian Navy is set to get a boost as it will be receiving 26 state-of-the-art Rafale fighter planes from France under an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA), amidst escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.
The IGA has been signed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of Armed Forces of France Sebastien Lecornu and copies of the agreement along with the pacts on aircraft package, supply protocol and weapons package supply protocol were exchanged by Indian and French officials in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, here on Monday.
The cost of the 26 Rafale Marine Aircraft (22 Single-Seater and four Twin-Seater) is estimated to be Rs 63,000 crore, although the price was not mentioned in the official statement issued by the Defence Ministry.
The statement said that the IGA includes training, simulator, associated equipment, weapons and performance-based logistics. It also includes additional equipment for the existing Rafale fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
In line with the government’s thrust on ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, the agreement includes transfer of technology for integration of indigenous weapons in India. It also includes setting up of production facility for Rafale fuselage as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities for aircraft engine, sensors and weapons in India.
The deal is expected to generate thousands of jobs and revenue for a large number of MSMEs in setting up, production and running of these facilities.
Manufactured by France’s Dassault Aviation, the Rafale-Marine is a carrier-borne combat-ready aircraft with proven operational capabilities in maritime environment. The delivery of these aircraft would be completed by 2030, with the crew undergoing training in France and India.
Rafale-Marine has commonality with the Rafale being operated by IAF. Its procurement will substantially enhance joint operational capability, besides optimising training and logistics for the aircraft for both Indian Navy and IAF.
The induction would lead to the addition of a potent force multiplier to the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers, substantially boosting the nation’s air power at sea.
UNI
