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India and France Ink ₹64,000-Crore Agreement for Procurement of 26 Rafale-M Fighter Jets.

MOUs and Agreement | Dated: 30 Apr 2025

On 28 April 2025, the Government of India (GoI) and the Government of France officially signed a ₹64,000-crore (approximately USD 7.4 billion) agreement for the procurement of 26 Rafale-Marine (Rafale-M) fighter jets to enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy (IN).

🎯 Key Highlights:

- The fleet will comprise 22 single-seat fighter aircraft and 4 twin-seat trainer aircraft, which will primarily operate from India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikrant.

💡 Other Important Facts:

(i) The contract was signed during a virtual ceremony attended by Rajesh Kumar Singh, Defence Secretary, Ministry of Defence (MoD), Government of India, and Thierry Matho, Defence Minister of France.
(ii) The agreement is a Government-to-Government (G2G) deal, meaning it was directly negotiated and concluded between the two governments, without the involvement of private entities.
(iii) Deliveries of the Rafale-M fighter jets are scheduled to begin by the end of 2029 and are expected to be completed by 2031.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

India has recently signed a ₹64,000-crore deal with which country for the purchase of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets?

Correct Answer: France

🚀 Quick Recap:

About France

President: Emmanuel Macron
Prime Minister: François Bayrou