New Delhi: The Indian Navy has taken an important step towards operating Rafale M (Rafale Marine) fighter jets from its aircraft carriers after one of the aircraft successfully landed on INS Vikrant on its maiden attempt on Thursday. The Navy shared the development on X, saying the ongoing trials mark the first steps towards operationalizing the aircraft.
The landing is significant because the Rafale M was originally developed for carrier operations, but India’s aircraft carriers use a different launch system from the French carrier on which the fighter currently operates. Its integration therefore requires testing to establish its suitability for the Indian Navy’s flight-deck operations.
Why does Navy need these fighters?
The jets will enable the Navy to launch its own fighter jets from the carriers for air defence, offensive attacks, and surveillance missions. These will assist in safeguarding the naval fleets against any aerial attacks and attacking the enemy on sea.
This ability to conduct operations from the carriers also means that India can exercise air power over maritime areas without being fully dependent on coastal airbases. This is especially important for the naval operations that take place in the Indian Ocean region.
Rafale M vs IAF Rafale: Key Differences
India currently use Rafale jets through its Indian Air Force. This naval jet is similar to the other Rafale jets in terms of design and equipment but has more structure in order to cope with the conditions of sailing.
Carrier-based landings add additional strain to the plane when making a landing. The Rafale M has strengthened landing gears as well as a tail hook that secures the plane through the use of arrestor wires on the deck of the carrier.
Both variants have common combat capabilities such as air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. Nevertheless, the radars and electronic warfare equipment of the Rafale M have been modified to operate in the marine environment.
What Navy gets from the 26-jet deal
As RNA Media earlier reported, India signed a ₹63,000 crore agreement with France on April 28, 2025, for 26 Rafale M fighter aircraft. The deal comprises 22 single-seat and four twin-seat jets, along with training, simulators, weapons and maintenance support.
It also includes provisions for technology transfer and the development of maintenance facilities in India. The aircraft are intended to operate from INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.