India on Monday entered into a contract worth Rs 63,000 crore to acquire 26 Rafale M fighter jets-the marine variant-from France, thereby concluding an unparalleled government-to-government deal. The deal signed for Rafale jets covers 22 single-seater and four twin-seater trainer aircraft, with deliveries planned to conclude by 2031.

The contract involves fleet maintenance, logistics support, and training of personnel, and in an important milestone for the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the indigenous production of components. The Rafale M is widely thought of as one of the world's most advanced naval fighters. Currently, no one operates this fighter jet other than the French navy.

It has robust landing gears systems of Safran Groups regarded as one of the finest in carrier-compatible aircraft, the wings can be folded, and the undercarriage is strengthened to endure tough situations, deck landings, and tailhook use. The newest weapons of the Navy are going to be positioned on the aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya for enhancing maritime power and countering threats in the Indian Ocean. It will eventually replace the aging MiG-29K fleet.

Currently, the Indian Air Force has in its possession 36 Rafale jets, and the additional acquisition of naval variants will also increase IAF capabilities by upgrading the buddy-buddy aerial-refuelling system, that's right, one jet with a refuelling pod can act as a tactical fuel tanker for another, giving fighters extended time in the air.

Navy plans to induct indigenous Fifth-gen fighter jets being developed by the Defence Research and Development Institute-DRDO. 36 Rafale jets of the 'C' variant operate from two northern bases in the Air Force.

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