India, France to sign £ 63,000 crore agreement for 26 Rafale Marine Combat Aircraft today | Today news

India and France will sign a £ 63,000 crore agreement for 26 Rafale Marine Combat aircraft on Monday in Delhi, defensive officials said. Officials from the Ministry of Defense and the French Ambassador to India will represent the two parties during the signing event. Defense Minister Rajesh Kumar Singh is likely to represent the Indian team, while French and Indian defense ministers are expected to attend remotely, sources said. The French defense minister was previously scheduled to attend the signing in person, but had to cancel his visit for personal reasons. The Cabinet Committee on Security cleared the agreement earlier this month. The 26 Rafal Marine fighter aircraft are urgently needed for the deployment of Indian aircraft carriers, especially In Vikrant, who is now employed. The existing fleet of MIG-29K fighters has reportedly underperformed due to maintenance-related problems. The rafal m jets will be adjusted to meet the Indian requirements and will be integrated into Vikrant. These carrier-transferred fighters are obtained as a stop gap solution until the development of an indigenous carrier-transferred fighter plane is completed. According to sources, the signing event is likely to be held outside the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense in South Block. The French minister is expected to arrive in India on Sunday night and leave late Monday night, the sources added. Earlier this month, India cleared its largest defense agreement for 26 Rafale Marine Combat Aircraft on April 9 at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee for Safety, chaired by Premier Narendra Modi. The government-to-government contract contains 22 single seats and four twin seats, along with an extensive package for fleet interview, logistical support, staff training and indigenous component manufacturing. The Rafale M-Jets work from Ins Vikrant and support the existing MIG-29K fleet. The Indian Air Force already operates a fleet of 36 Rafale aircraft obtained under a separate agreement signed in 2016. These aircraft are based on ambala and Hasimara. The new agreement increases the total number of Rafale jets in India to 62, which significantly increases the country’s 4.5-generation fighter aircraft. First published: 28 Apr 2025, 08:17 AM Ist