India may soon get 26 Rafale M, talks are going on with France for the purchase of aircraft

Talks are going on between the governments of India and France to buy 26 Rafale marine jets at a cost of more than Rs 50 thousand crore. Talks were to start between the two countries on the aircraft deal on May 30, but in view of the Lok Sabha elections, this dialogue was postponed till the second week of June.

Defense sources said that a French delegation has come to New Delhi. It includes officials of their Directorate General of Armaments, who are monitoring the ongoing Rafale deal with India.

In December last year, France submitted its response to India's tender to buy 26 Rafale marine jets for the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers - INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. France had responded to India's acceptance letter in New Delhi.

Features of Rafale-M:

• The Rafale marine fighter jet was specifically built for air strikes in the maritime sector.
• Rafale M is intended for landing aboard aircraft carriers.
• This aircraft's wings may be folded. The Rafale aircraft received by the Air Force do not have foldable wings.
• Rafale-M can reach a height of 18,000 meters in a single minute. This aircraft is vastly superior than Pakistan's F-16 and China's J-20. The aircraft has a fighting radius of 3700 km.
• This aircraft, like the Air Force's Rafale, is capable of refuelling in the air.