Rafale Marine contract signed for India
The Inter-Governmental Agreement between France and India was signed today, in the presence of Éric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, for the acquisition by India of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft to equip the Indian Navy.
©Dassault Aviation - C. Cosmao
(Saint-Cloud, April 28, 2025) - The Inter-Governmental Agreement between France and India was signed today, in the presence of Éric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, for the acquisition by India of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft to equip the Indian Navy.
This contract follows the announcement, in July 2023, of the selection of the Rafale Marine, for which the Indian Navy will be the first user outside France, following an international consultation. It confirms the Indian authorities' satisfaction with the aircraft's capabilities, and their desire to broaden the spectrum of its operational use.
This new acquisition testifies to the importance of the strategic relationship between India and France, and the recognition of the Rafale as an essential vector of national sovereignty.
It honors Dassault Aviation's commitment to meeting the operational needs of the Indian forces since the Toofany entered service seven decades ago, and its determination, through its significant contribution to the “Make in India” policy and the “Skill India” initiative, to make its presence in India a success in the service of Indian interests.
The Rafale Marine will provide the Indian Armed Forces with state-of-the-art capabilities, and the Indian Navy will benefit from the experience of the French Navy, which already operates this aircraft. Together with the 36 Rafales already in service with the Indian Air Force, the Rafale Marine will play an active role in guaranteeing the exercise of national sovereignty and consolidating India's role as a major international power.
“On behalf of Dassault Aviation and its partners, I would like to thank the Indian authorities, with whom we have been working for over 70 years, for their confidence, and reaffirm our unshakeable determination to stand by their side to help India express its sovereign power, its strategic challenges and its ambitious vision of the future”, declared Éric Trappier.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)