Indian Navy Prepares For New Carrier-Based Fighter
The Indian Navy anticipates receiving its first four Dassault Rafale M carrier-based fighters by 2029, as part of a €7.4 billion order for 26 aircraft signed in April 2025. The Rafale M will replace the aging MiG-29K fleet and operate from India’s STOBAR-configured carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. The new fleet will offer multirole strike, air-to-air, maritime attack, and electronic-warfare missions. The Indian Air Force’s existing Rafale fleet is expected to support the introduction of the Rafale M, with training and infrastructure work underway. This development was first reported by AeroTime.