• By Nikhil Singh
  • Thu, 13 Jul 2023 12:22 PM (IST)
  • Source:ANI
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JE News Desk: Expectations are rife that India may sign a deal to purchase the Rafale fighter jet’s naval version from France during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country. The two countries may sign a deal for 26 Rafale naval jets. 

As many as 22 of these fighter aircrafts will be single-seated Rafale Marine aircrafts and four will be trainer aircraft, according to sources quoted by ANI. This order for the advance fighter jets comes after India’s procurement of 36 Rafale jets for Rs 59,000 Crore in 2016.

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Rafale Jets:

The deal to procure 36 Rafale jets, made by France-based Dassault Aviation, was signed between India and France in September 2016. India received these aircrafts in several installments over multiple years, with the first batch of five of these aircrafts landing in India in 2020. These fighter jets are known for effectively establishing air superiority and carrying out precision strikes. The acquisition of these jets was a major step in weaning India away from dependence on Russia for military equipments.

Image credit: ANI

Rafale M

This is basically the naval version of the Rafale aircraft, and is also produced by Dassault Aviation. They are specially designed for maritime operations. It is also heavier than the normal Rafale as it has several modifications that are added to it for making it suitable for aircraft carriers. The addition of these aircrafts is expected to boost India's naval defence capabilities.

Image credit: Reuters

There are key differences between the naval version of  the jet and the one that India had procured in 2016, Times of India reported.

Here are the key differences between the two versions:

Capabilities Rafale M Rafale
Weapons Long range weapons that include anti-ship missles Standard range of weapons
Mission Maritime operations Establishing air superiority, ground attacks, air refueling
Wing Foldable, to occupy less space on carriers Non-foldable
Undercarriage reinforced to handle stress of landing on aircraft carriers Standard undercarriage
Tailhook To carry out controlled landing on carriers No tailhook
Radar Thales RBE2-M, optimised for maritime operations standard radar
Jump Strut For catapult launches No jump strut

- Both versions of the Rafale jets seem identical but its maritime version, the deal for which is expected to be signed during PM Modi’s visit to France, has a longer and more strengthened nose and also reinforced undercarriage. 

- Although both jets are multirole fighter jets, the naval version - for obvious reasons - is designed to operate from aircraft carriers. Indian aircraft carriers like Vikramaditya have used the MiG29 aircrafts so far and now they are expected to carry Rafale jets. 

- The Rafale M has a reinforced undercarriage to cope with the stress of landing on the carrier’s deck. The normal Rafale have a standard airframe.

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- Rafale M jets will have a tail hook for arrested landing. The Rafale jets bought earlier do not such hooks. 

- The radar in the Rafale M, Thales RBE2-M, are optimised for maritime operations. Radars on the other Rafales are standard. 

- Rafale M will have a longer range of missiles, including anti-ship missiles. The other Rafales have a standard range of missiles. 

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- Most importantly, and something that explains the difference between the two types of aircrafts, the nature of operations for these jets are different. Where Rafale M is supposed to be used for carrier operations the other Rafale jets bought earlier are to be used for establishing air superiority, carrying out ground attacks and for air-to-air refueling. 

Some other features of Rafale M: 

- There is a “jump strut” nosewheel which is extends during short takeoffs like catatpult launches. 

- To access the cockpit from the carrier deck, there will be a built-in ladder.

- There will be a microwave landing system, according to the report, that will be suited for carriers. 

These modifications have also reportedly made the Rafale M slightly heavier.

 

(With agency inputs)