29th April 2025 (12 Topics)
26 Rafale-M Jets
Context
India signed a Rs 63,000 crore government-to-government deal with France to procure 26 Rafale M (Marine) naval fighter jets for the Indian Navy. The agreement was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) amid the urgent need to replace the ageing MiG-29K fleet and strengthen India’s maritime air power, especially for deployment on INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
About Rafale M (Marine) naval fighter jets
- The Rafale M is a naval variant of the Dassault Rafale, a multirole fighter aircraft designed for carrier-based operations.
- It is specifically engineered to operate from aircraft carriers, providing the Indian Navy with enhanced maritime air power, complementing its existing fleet of naval aircraft.
- · Key Features and Capabilities:
- Carrier Compatibility: The Rafale M is designed to operate from 40,000-tonne class aircraft carriers. Its landing gear, wings, and overall structure are reinforced to withstand the harsh environment of aircraft carrier decks.
- The folding wings feature allows the aircraft to fit into the limited storage space aboard carriers, making it space-efficient.
- Landing and Takeoff: It is equipped with tailhooks for landing on short aircraft carrier decks.
- Multirole Capability:
- The Rafale M is a multirole fighter that can perform air superiority, ground attack, and anti-ship missions.
- It can be used for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and air-to-air refuelling as well.
- The aircraft's ability to carry a range of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, bombs, and precision-guided munitions, adds versatility in both offensive and defensive roles.
- Advanced Avionics: The Rafale M is equipped with advanced radar systems (like the RBE2 AESA radar) and electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, making it a formidable asset in modern aerial combat scenarios.
- Engine and Performance:
- It is powered by M88-2 engines, the aircraft has high thrust-to-weight ratio, ensuring superior agility and acceleration for carrier operations.
- The maximum speed is around 8 Mach (approximately 2,220 km/h), with a range of about 1,000 km without refuelling.
- Operational Use:
- The French Navy currently uses the Rafale M aboard its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.
- The Indian Navy plans to deploy the Rafale M on INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya to enhance its strike capabilities and maritime dominance in the Indian Ocean Region.
- Aerial Refuelling Capabilities: Rafale M comes with buddy-buddy aerial refuelling, which allows one fighter to act as a refueller for another, extending operational endurance and range.
- Carrier Compatibility: The Rafale M is designed to operate from 40,000-tonne class aircraft carriers. Its landing gear, wings, and overall structure are reinforced to withstand the harsh environment of aircraft carrier decks.
Key Differences between Rafale M and IAF’s Rafale C:
|
Feature |
Rafale M (Naval) |
Rafale C (Air Force) |
|
Carrier Compatibility |
Designed for aircraft carrier ops |
Land-based operations |
|
Landing Gear |
Reinforced for carrier landings |
Standard landing gear |
|
Wings |
Folding wings for space efficiency |
Fixed wings |
|
Role |
Multirole, carrier-based operations |
Multirole, air force missions |
|
Variants |
Single-seat and twin-seat trainer |
Single-seat only |
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