Rafale Marine to operate from INS Vikrant (R11):- La Tribune

[walterbibikow]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1610541196979408896

https://twitter.com/x/status/1610545466504249349

Paris: After the Indian Air Force (IAF) the Indian Navy is also in line to get Rafale fighter aircraft from France. Earlier, the Indian Air Force (IAF) had chosen the Rafale for its new squadron, now the Indian Navy is set to acquire the Rafale M.

According to the French media, this deal can be signed between the two countries when French President Emmanuel Macron visits India in March.
Interestingly, the Indian Navy has rejected the American jet F/A-18 Super Hornet and opted for the deal with Rafale. The deal for the Rafale M is being termed as a milestone in the relations between India and France.

If you believe in defence sources, then the Indian Navy is about to signed a multi-billion dollar deal with France for 26 Rafale M aircraft.

Rafale M to be deployed on INS Vikrant

Dassault Aviation, the maker of Rafale, is confident that Rafale M will be suitable for the Indian Navy’s warship INS Vikrant. Rafale M is still being used by the armies of Greece, Indonesia and UAE.

The interesting thing is that the Indian Navy has rejected the American fighter jet F/A-18 Super Hornet. Both fighter jets were trialled by the Navy earlier this year. A detailed report of this trial was submitted to the Defence Ministry of India in December. Both fighter jets were tested at INS Hansa, a naval base in Goa.

Why Indian Navy chose Rafale M
The Indian Navy believes that Rafale can meet its needs much better. The Indian Navy wants to decommission 43 outdated Russian fighter jets MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB from its fleet. The Navy had several aircraft names in mind but the final race was between the Rafale M and the F-18. The French Navy currently has 240 Rafale M jets. Dassault started manufacturing these jets from the year 1986.

Both the jets are already deployed on advanced aircraft carriers. In such a situation, both jets are fit for aircraft carriers equipped with CATOBARs system.

The Indian Navy currently has a new aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and an older INS Vikramaditya. INS Vikramaditya is a Kyiv class aircraft carrier of the Soviet Union which has been modernized in India. Both these warships are STOBAR aircraft carriers.

After IAF, now Indian Navy to get Rafale fighter jets

The Indian Navy has rejected the American jet F/A-18 Super Hornet and opted for the deal with Rafale. The deal for the Rafale M is being termed as a milestone in the relations between India and France

www.firstpost.com

France's Rafale jets are frontrunner in race for Indian Navy contract

Forward movement by the Indian Navy would mean that the proposal for more Rafale jets for the IAF is also likely to gather speed.

www.google.com

@Skull and Bones @Raj-Hindustani @applesauce @VkdIndian @Paitoo @INDIAPOSITIVE
@Windjammer @Primus @CivilianSupremacy

 

[Abu Shaleh Rumi]

You folks are going to purchase an unfoldable winged jet for your small carrier! Really man?

 

[walterbibikow]

small carrier!

Medium size carrier buddy
INS Vikrant has a full displacement of close to 45,000 tonnes

 

[Abu Shaleh Rumi]

Medium size carrier buddy
INS Vikrant has a full displacement of close to 45,000 tonnes

In this context and era 45000 tonnage is small man...

 

[Skull and Bones]

You folks are going to purchase an unfoldable winged jet for your small carrier! Really man?

According to a French news source, The version India will buy have folded wings as per agreement. Let me search for that news article.

 

[kaykay]

Good choice. They have shown amazing payload capacity with SATOBAR launch.

According to a French news source, The version India will buy have folded wings as per agreement. Let me search for that news article.

According to The Print article of Snehesh Alex Philip, It can fit in Vikrant's lift with certain angled approach according to French.

 

[INS_Vikrant]

According to a French news source, The version India will buy have folded wings as per agreement. Let me search for that news article.

They will make such major modifications for order of just 26 aircraft?

 

[Skull and Bones]

They will make such major modifications for order of just 26 aircraft?

Very soon Mig-29s will also be removed from service, will be swapped with either new Rafale orders or TEDBF.

 

[INS_Vikrant]

Very soon Mig-29s will also be removed from service, will be swapped with either new Rafale orders or TEDBF.

Dassault is overbooked with orders for Rafale, unless they start another production line for Rafale the first aircrafts IN won't be getting before 2028 atleast. So Vikrant won't achieve its full operational Capability until the end of this decade.

 

[Abu Shaleh Rumi]

According to a French news source, The version India will buy have folded wings as per agreement. Let me search for that news article.

Thats a major modification! Which will increase procurement and logistical cost as only india will operate this type. And who is going to pay for this modification?

 

[SQ8]

Unless the wings fold or the elevators have been changed - doesn’t look like a logical deal. But the Rafale is the best choice if not for the incompatibility.

Incorporating folding wings wont happen overnight

 

[applesauce]

Unless the wings fold or the elevators have been changed - doesn’t look like a logical deal. But the Rafale is the best choice if not for the incompatibility.

Incorporating folding wings wont happen overnight

i heard the "solution" was to disassemble part of the wings then reassemble them everytime a jet needs to go on deck or go below lol

but then, with how often india uses its carriers, this might be a perfectly fine pace for them.

 

[INS_Vikrant]

Unless the wings fold or the elevators have been changed - doesn’t look like a logical deal. But the Rafale is the best choice if not for the incompatibility.

Incorporating folding wings wont happen overnight

Clearly a workaround exist, else both Navy and Dassault won't waste time and money on conducting trials.

 

[Abdul Rehman Majeed]

You folks are going to purchase an unfoldable winged jet for your small carrier! Really man?

Indians will be operating these fighters from their shore bases.

French kickbacks to Modi are working.

 

[SQ8]

i heard the "solution" was to disassemble part of the wings then reassemble them everytime a jet needs to go on deck or go below lol

but then, with how often india uses its carriers, this might be a perfectly fine pace for them.

Good lord - that is a horrible solution.
What if they have a failure on deck and need to launch a spare or need to vacate the deck

Clearly a workaround exist, else both Navy and Dassault won't waste time and money on conducting trials.

A workaround existing may not be ideal