Goa, April 28 -- In a major boost to India's maritime defence capabilities, the government on Monday finalized a Rs.63,000 crore deal to procure 26 Rafale M fighter jets from France, marking a record-breaking government-to-government defence agreement.

The Rafale M, currently operated only by the French Navy, is considered one of the most advanced naval fighters in the world. It features:

These jets will be deployed on INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, replacing the ageing MiG-29K fleet and significantly enhancing India's naval air strike capabilities in the Indian Ocean and beyond.

Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi had previously stated India is ready to tackle any threats in its area of operations, and this strategic acquisition ali...