The announcement came a day before the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Paris as the guest of honor for France’s national holiday on July 14, 2023. It was approved during a meeting of India’s Defence Acquisition Council.  

鈥淭he price and other terms of purchase will be negotiated with the French Government after taking into account all relevant aspects, including comparative procurement price of similar aircraft by other countries,鈥� the Indian Ministry of Defense said in a . 

The council also approved the acquisition of three additional Scorpene submarines from France. 

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two countries, Modi is the guest of honor at the 2023 Bastille Day celebrations. As part of the traditional flypast, three Indian Rafale jets will grace the skies above the Champs-脡lys茅es Avenue.聽聽

The Rafale and the F-18 Super Hornet in the running for the Indian Navy

The Indian Naval Air Arm is currently in pursuit of a replacement for its aging fleet of 40 MiG-29K aircraft. This initiative aims to equip the INS Vikrant, India’s maiden indigenous aircraft carrier, with a more modern and capable fighter fleet.

The French Rafale and the US-made F-18 Super Hornet underwent a rigorous evaluation process, which included a crucial requirement to demonstrate their ski-jump take-off capability. This technique, known as Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR), aligns with the operational procedures of the Indian Navy.

The INS Vikrant, India’s indigenous aircraft carrier commissioned in 2022, utilizes the STOBAR system for aircraft launch. In contrast, the French Navy and the US Navy employ a flat deck and a catapult launch (CATOBAR) system on their respective carriers.

According to undisclosed defense sources, the evaluation process concluded that the Rafale M exhibited a higher degree of compatibility with the operational requirements and criteria of the Indian Navy, surpassing its competitor.

With the Rafale M boasting more than 80% shared features with the Indian Air Force’s 36 Rafale B and C, this choice will allow India to save costs with training, repairs, and maintenance, stemming from the commonality between the fleets.

Rafale takes lead over Super Hornet in India精东影业 Navy tender

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2022-12-09

Taiwan’s defense ministry said it had dispatched “appropriate forces” to monitor the Chinese activities鈥嬧�� in the strait which separates the self-ruled island of Taiwan and the Chinese mainland. 

This move by China coincided with a visit from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was in Beijing to ease tensions between the two superpowers. 

The day before the incident, Blinken declared he had 鈥渞aised US concerns 鈥� shared by a growing number of countries 鈥� about the PRC精东影业 provocative actions in the Taiwan Strait, as well as in the South and East China Seas鈥� in meetings with China精东影业 officials. 

Over the years, the People精东影业 Liberation Army Navy and Air Force have regularly entered Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and have conducted air drills on at least three separate occasions (in 2013, 2016, and 2017).

Moreover, their newest warship Shandong was deployed to simulate strikes around the island in April 2023 following the Taiwanese President’s visit to the US and later sailed through the Taiwan Strait in May.

Launched in 2017, the Shandong is China’s first domestically constructed aircraft carrier, primarily based on the design of its predecessor, the Soviet-built aircraft carrier Liaoning. 

Similar to Liaoning, Shandong uses the simpler “Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery” (STOBAR) launch and recovery system. The warship also retains the ski-jump takeoff, limiting its air wing to helicopters and Shenyang J-15 fighter jets of the People’s Liberation Army Navy Air Force. 

Despite the Shandong being a more advanced aircraft carrier, there were no reports of it conducting flight operations during its transits, which would have signified a more aggressive attempt to test Taiwan精东影业 air defenses. 

US approves the production of fighter jet engines in India, reports suggest

• Defense

byEmilia Stankeviciute

2023-06-20

This marked the first fixed-wing aircraft to land on India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier since its commission in September 2022. 

India commissions its first home-built aircraft carrier, the INS Vikrant

• Defense

byValius Venckunas

2022-09-02

“The successful landing and take-off of the indigenous LCA Navy on India’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier is a momentous step forward towards the realisation of our collective vision of AatmaNirbharBharat [a campaign to increase India精东影业 industrial self-reliance – ed. note],鈥� commented R. Hari Kumar, India精东影业 Chief of the Naval Staff.  

Developed by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), the LCA Tejas is the first fighter jet designed and built in India since the HAL Marut in the 1960s. It is defined by its manufacturer as a light 4+ generation fighter, equipped with an AESA radar, BVR (beyond visual range) missiles, and an electronic warfare suite.  

India begins testing upgraded Tejas Mk 1A: report

• Defense

byValius Venckunas

2022-07-29

Following the landing of the Tejas-N, a MiG-29K fighter also landed and took off for the first time on the warship.  

鈥淭he maiden landing of the MiG-29K also heralds the integration of the fighter aircraft with INS Vikrant,鈥� Kumar added. 

Arming the INS Vikrant, India精东影业 first indigenously built aircraft carrier 

The INS Vikrant has a displacement of around 40,000 tons and a length of 262 meters (860 feet), slightly shorter than the INS Vikramaditya, the flagship of the Indian Navy based on a Soviet Kiev-class aircraft carrier.  

Like every carrier of the Indian Navy so far, the INS Vikrant is in Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) configuration, meaning that it is equipped with a ski-jump ramp to allow carrier-capable aircraft to take off.  

Indian Navy LCA fighter achieves arrested landing [Video]

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2019-09-16

At first, the Vikrant carrier air wing will be composed of MiG-29K fighters acquired from Russia in 2009. 26 naval fighters will eventually replace them as part of the Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighter program. Two candidates are being considered: the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet and the Dassault Rafale fighter jet.  

Unnamed defense sources have told local media that the evaluation process found the Rafale M to be 鈥渕ore suitable in meeting the operational requirements and criteria鈥� of the Indian Navy compared to its competitor. 

Eventually, India hopes to develop its own carrier-capable fighter as part of the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) program. The latter is expected to enter service by 2032. The Tejas-N was initially expected to fill that purpose but was rejected by the Indian Navy in 2016 as it was deemed 鈥渢oo heavy鈥�. The Tejas-N now assumes the role of a technology demonstrator for the TEDBF program. 

For its 21st edition, the naval drill, which will last from January 16 to 20, 2023, involves the French nuclear aircraft carrier and its escort, as well as several Indian frigates. Indian MiG-29 fighters, Boeing P-8 Poseidon, and Dornier Do 228 maritime patrol aircraft will conduct joint training with French Rafale fighters and an Atlantique 2 submarine hunter. 

鈥淭he objective of VARUNA 23.1 is to prepare the crews of these two nations to face, together, various challenges, mobilizing their anti-surface, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft capabilities,鈥� the French Ministry of Armed Forces explained in a statement.  

The exercises are to include air defense exercises, surface firings, and underway refueling scenarios. 

鈥淗aving grown in scope and complexity over the years, this exercise provides an opportunity to learn from each other精东影业 best practices,鈥� the Indian Ministry of Defence said. 

Last showcase for the Rafale Marine? 

France and India are reportedly finalizing an order for the Dassault Rafale Marine, the carrier-borne variant of the French fighter. The announcement could take place during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India scheduled for March 2023, La Tribune . 

The Dassault Rafale was pitched against the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet during the Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters (MRCBF) program. Among the capacities evaluated was the ability to take off by ski-jumping off a ramp. This technique, called Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR), is deployed on the two Indian Navy carriers, while carriers for both the French and US Navies favor a flat deck and a catapult launch system (CATOBAR). 

In early December 2022, several Indian media outlets citing defense sources said the French fighter was found to be a better fit for the navy精东影业 requirements over the US-made jet. 

India has already been using Dassault精东影业 aircraft in its ground-based operations since September 2020, with the Indian Air Force (IAF) flying 36 Rafale B/C. 

Rafale takes lead over Super Hornet in India精东影业 Navy tender

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2022-12-09

During the Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters (MRCBF) program, the French fighter was pitched against the US-made F/A-18 Super Hornet. The tests took place at the shore-based INS Hansa test facility in Goa that simulates the deck of the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier.

The capacities evaluated included the ability to take off by ski-jumping off a ramp. This technique, called Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR), is deployed on the two Indian Navy carriers, while carriers for both the French and US Navies favor a flat deck and a catapult launch system (CATOBAR).

Confidential results of the contest were sent to the Indian Ministry of Defense, with the government set to review them before taking a final decision. According to several Indian outlets, though, the Rafale M appears to have won out during the evaluation.

鈥淭he Rafale M has been found to be a better fit for the navy精东影业 requirements,鈥� an unnamed official told The Hindustan Times.

Other defense sources told The Times of India that the report found the Rafale M to be 鈥渕ore suitable in meeting the operational requirements and criteria鈥� of the Indian Navy compared to its competitor.

India has already been using the French fighter in its ground-based operations since September 2020, with the Indian Air Force (IAF) using the 36 Rafale B/C. As such, the Navy could make use of the Rafale training and maintenance facility at Ambala Air Force Station.

The high stakes of the MRCBF program 

The Indian Naval Air Arm is currently seeking to replace its aging fleet of 40 MiG-29K aircraft. The winning aircraft from the trials will operate from the INS Vikrant. The MRCBF tender will result in an order for at least 26 fighters.

The INS Vikrant is the first Indian-designed aircraft carrier, with most of its components locally sourced. It was delivered to the Indian Navy on July 28, 2022.

The MRCBF competition could also influence a much larger procurement: in parallel to its naval program, India is also considering the acquisition of 114 new fighters for the IAF as part of the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) tender.

A Rafale order from the Indian Navy could thus tilt the balance in favor of the French fighter in the IAF competition as well, for the sake of fleet harmonization.

India to begin evaluating the Rafale M fighter for Vikrant aircraft carrier

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2022-01-04

The INS Vikrant has a displacement of around 40,000 tons and a length of 262 meters (860 feet), slightly shorter than the INS Vikramaditya, the flagship of the Indian Navy based on a Soviet Kiev-class aircraft carrier.  

Like every carrier of the Indian Navy so far, the INS Vikrant is in Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) configuration, meaning that it is equipped with a ski-jump ramp to allow carrier-capable aircraft to take off. 

India精东影业 naval aviation currently flies 26 MiG-29K fighters. However, the nation is currently holding a competition to replace them. Two candidates are being considered: the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet and the Dassault Rafale fighter jet.  

The US and French aircraft carriers use a catapult launch system (CATOBAR) for their aircraft. Thus, the two fighters had to prove their capacity to perform a ski-jump take-off from a ramp at Naval Station Hansa in Goa, India. 

Our F/A-18 successfully demonstrated the ability to safely operate from aircraft carriers during operational tests at INS Hansa, Goa.

鈥� Boeing India (@Boeing_In)

With the MRCBF (Multi Role Carrier Borne Fighters) program, the Indian Naval Air Arm is attempting to replace its aging fleet of 40 MiG-29K aircraft.  

As announced in October 2021, the French fighter will have to prove its capacity to operate from the INS Vikrant, the first aircraft carrier built in India and which is currently undergoing sea trials. To do so, the aircraft will have to demonstrate its ability to perform a ski-jump take- off from a ramp.  

鈥孯afale M fighter jet to attempt ski-jump takeoff from India’s carrier ramp

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2021-10-20

Indeed, unlike the French Navy’s Charles de Gaulle that uses a catapult launch system (CATOBAR), both the INS Vikrant and the INS Vikramaditya, (the former Soviet carrier previously known as  Admiral Gorshkov) use a Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) system. The test will take place at the INS Hansa shore-based test facility in Goa that simulates the deck of the INS Vikramaditya. 

If tests prove conclusive, the Indian Navy could lease up to five Rafale M fighters from France, according to The Hindustan Times, citing defense officials. With this lease, the INS Vikrant could become operational on the symbolic date of August 15, 2022, the 75th anniversary of Indian independence. The media notes that the Navy could make use of the Rafale training and maintenance facility at Ambala Air Force Station. 

India is also considering the Boeing F-18 Super Hornet as a possible replacement. The latter already demonstrated its STOBAR capacity at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in the state of Maryland, United States. But it is due to be put to the test on Indian soil from March 2022. 

This technique, called Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR), is in force in the Indian Navy. Both the INS Vikramaditya (former Soviet Admiral Gorshkov) and the upcoming INS Vikrant, an indigenous carrier to be commissioned in 2022, use a STOBAR system.

The Indian Naval Air Arm currently operates a fleet of over 40 MiG-29K fighter aircraft. To replace the aging fleet, the Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters (MRCBF) program was established, with plans to acquire 57 carrier-capable fighter jets.

India is currently evaluating the performance of the Boeing F-18 Super Hornet, and the naval version of the Dassault Rafale, whose standard variant is already operating with the Indian Air Force. Carriers of both the French Navy and the US Navy use a flat deck and a catapult launch system (CATOBAR) instead.

In December 2020, the Super Hornet successfully demonstrated its ability to take off by ski-jumping at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in the state of Maryland, United States. The test was witnessed by representatives of the Indian embassy in the US. 

Unlike its competitor, the Rafale精东影业 test will take place in India, at the INS Hansa shore-based test facility in Goa, in early 2022.

Boeing F-18 Super Hornet shows ability to ski-jump off India’s carrier ramp

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2020-12-22

Unlike its potential successor, the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier which was also designed by NDB uses the STOBAR (Short take-off but arrested recovery) system which employs a ski slope to get the planes airborne. Currently, only the navies of the United States and France have a CATOBAR aircraft carrier, though China, and possibly India, are in the process of building one.

The length of the UMK Varan reaches about 220 meters (720 feet), which is a hundred meters (300 feet) shorter than its predecessor. It could carry 24 fighters, six helicopters, and up to 20 drones, though not much is known about which aircraft specifically. Currently, the Russian aeronaval fleet is composed of Su-33 and MiG-29K fighters.

(Credit: NDB)

The curse of Kuznetsov

The last deployment of the Admiral Kuznetsov dates back to 2016 when it was used to support Russian operations in Syria. Since 2017, it has been immobilized for renovation 鈥� a project which has hit a few bumps since then. 

In October 2018, an incident put Admiral Kuznetsov in jeopardy. Its floating deck, unique in the world, suddenly sank and a crane that fell on the bridge caused extensive damages. A year later, in December 2019, welding operations on one of the aircraft carrier精东影业 power units were ongoing, when a fire broke out.

Russia精东影业 only aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov on fire

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2019-12-12

hits the slopes!
Watch as an F/A-18 takes off from a ski-jump ramp, demonstrating the ability to operate effectively from aircraft carriers.

鈥� Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense)

The test took place at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, in the state of Maryland, and involved Boeing and the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 of the U.S. Navy. It was also witnessed by representatives of the Indian embassy in the United States. 

The Indian Navy could potentially acquire the aircraft to operate from the INS Vikramaditya (former Soviet Admiral Gorshkov) and the upcoming INS Vikrant, an indigenous carrier, both using the Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) system. The Indian Naval Air Arm currently operates a fleet of over 40 MiG-29K fighter aircraft. The decision on a purchase is expected to be known in 2021. 

Indian Navy MiG-29 crashes into Arabian Sea, 1 pilot missing

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2020-11-27

鈥淭he first successful and safe launch of the F/A-18 Super Hornet from a ski jump begins the validation process to operate effectively from Indian Navy aircraft carriers,鈥� said Ankur Kanaglekar, India Fighter Sales lead for Boeing. 鈥淭he F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet will not only provide superior warfighting capability to the Indian Navy but also create opportunities for cooperation in naval aviation between the United States and India.鈥� 

The Block III is the latest and most advanced version of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, featuring an Advanced Cockpit System, and capability upgrades that include greater range, reduced radar signature, and improved communication system. Two flight-test aircraft were delivered to the U.S. Navy in June 2020, with the Block III capabilities to be available from 2021.