Synopsis
- Based on these reports, in addition to the proposed purchase of 114 Rafale fighters for the Indian Air Force, the Indian Govt has also considered the inclusion of an extra 31 carrier-capable Rafale Marine jets for the Indian Navy, meaning that there is a consistent convergence between Air Force and Navy aviation needs.
According to some French media reports, the overall planning of the Indian Defence establishment regarding the French Dassault Rafale fighter jet is progressing much beyond previously announced numbers, with the overall requirement possibly reaching 145 aircraft for the Indian Air Force as well as the Indian Navy. Based on these reports, in addition to the proposed purchase of 114 Rafale fighters for the Indian Air Force, the Indian Govt has also considered the inclusion of an extra 31 carrier-capable Rafale Marine jets for the Indian Navy, meaning that there is a consistent convergence between Air Force and Navy aviation needs.
It has already ordered 62 Dassault Rafale fighters in the last decade, making these the backbone of India’s medium multi role fighters capabilities. It had signed the first big contract in 2016 of 36 Rafales for the air force, and they have been inducted and have been serving in two frontline squadrons. This was preceded by a separate government-to-government deal in April 2025, for 26 Rafale Marine fighters for the Indian Navy, the service’s first acquisition of a dedicated twin-engine, carrier-borne multirole fighter.
The French media observes that the number of aircraft that were originally required by the Indian Navy has never been confined to 26. The Indian naval planners had first estimated 57 Rafale Marine jets to equip several air wings of aircraft carriers many years ago, then the requirement was scaled down to 26 jets but the Navy also cleared it then that they would go for further orders once the first batch delivery begins. This higher figure is directly associated with the long-term force structure of the Indian Navy, especially for the planned third aircraft carrier, which, in turn, would considerably intensify the need for modern deck-based fighters, capable of dominating the entire vast Indian Ocean Region.
The Rafale marine, designed by Dassault Aviation, is a carrier based fighter with reinforced landing gear, arrestor hook, ski-jump and arrested-recovery capability. The Indian Navy has chosen it after conducting a thorough evaluation among other competing platforms with interoperability, commonality of logistics, and proven prowess in combat, all playing to its advantage. The similarity between the Rafales of the air force and the naval variant is also anticipated to have extended advantage of training, maintenance, and weapon integration.
If the numbers cited by the French media become a reality, Indian Rafale fleet would become largest outside Europe, making it the cornerstone of the Indian air and maritime power projection strategy in the vast Indian Ocean Region. A combined fleet of 145 Rafales would not only enhance deterrence along India’s contested land borders but also significantly strengthen carrier based operational capability at sea, aligning with India’s broader push to secure its interests from the western Indian Ocean to the Indo-Pacific.
