India is going to buy 26 Rafale-M fighter jets from France for its Navy. Talks between India and France are almost going to be finalized regarding this deal. This deal is worth about Rs 50 thousand crores. 22 single seat Rafale-M jets and 4 double trainer seat Rafale-M jets will be bought for the Navy. Under this deal, France will also provide weapons, simulators, training for the crew and logistic support along with the Rafale-M jets. Rafale-M fighter jets will be deployed on the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant to counter the threat from China in the Indian Ocean. Earlier, India had bought 36 Rafale fighter jets from France for the Indian Air Force under a deal of Rs 59 thousand crores in September 2016 and now India is buying Rafale-M aircraft.
The Indian Navy wanted a fighter jet that could easily take off from the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and give a befitting reply to the enemy. While America sent its F-18 Superhornet planes for this, France fielded Rafale-M fighter jets in the competition. Flight testing of both the aircraft was done on INS Vikrant. After much deliberation, the Navy gave preference to Rafale-M and after this the Ministry of Defense issued a letter of request, which was accepted by France in December 2023.
Rafale-M is the naval version of the Rafale fighter jet included in the country’s Air Force. The most lethal thing is that Rafale-M can also fire nuclear missiles. Rafale-M’s BVR rating i.e. Beyond Visual Range Rating is 90 percent out of 100. Its rating is also higher than other fighter jets in terms of weapons and technology. It is adept at dodging the enemy in the sky.
Rafale-M fighter jet flies at a speed of 1,912 kilometers per hour. Its operational range is 3,700 kilometers. It can reach a height of 52,000 feet in the sky and gains a height of 305 meters in a second. Rafale-M is fitted with RBE2-AA radar. With which it can scan and track targets in the air, sea and on the ground. It is so deadly that it can carry out every mission even at an altitude of 35,000 feet.
The Rafale-M fighter jet is equipped with deadly weapons including many destructive air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles. It is fitted with the Scalp air-to-surface missile, Meteor Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missile, and M39-Exosat anti-ship missile. It has a 30MM caliber cannon which fires 125 rounds in a minute. The power of Rafale-M is such that it can refuel in the sky itself and can fly continuously for 10 hours. The Brahmos supersonic missile can also be fitted on it. That is, with the arrival of Rafale-M in the Navy, India’s strength in the sea will increase manifold.
India is continuously working to increase the strength of its navy. Predator drones are also being purchased from America for the Navy. At the same time, India has also started planning to build new aircraft carrier ships.
(Note: This information is on public domain and use only for editorial and information)
