New Delhi, April 29 -- India on Monday signed a Rs.63,000 crore deal with France to buy 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for the navy which will operate them from its two aircraft carriers, with deliveries expected to begin in three years and be completed by 2030. The government-to-government deal for 22 single-seat Rafale M fighters and four twin-seat trainers includes the setting up of a local production facility for the jet's fuselage as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities for engines, sensors and weapons in India, the defence ministry said. "In line with the government's thrust on Atmanirbhar Bharat, the agreement includes transfer of technology for integration of indigenous weapons in India," it added in a statement. The Cabinet Commitee on Security, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the deal in early April to boost the Indian Navy's capabilities in the Indo-Pacific. The copies of the inter-governmental agreement, signed bydefence minister Rajnath Singh andhis French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu, were exchanged by Indian and French officials in the presence of defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at Nausena Bhawan. The deal includes training, simulators, associated equipment, weapons and performance-based logistics along with additional equipment for the Indian Air Force's Rafale fleet. The IAF operates 36 Rafale jets bought from France at a cost of Rs.59,000 crore, and the aircraft's naval variant will bring commonality with the air force's fighters, creating advantages in training, maintenance and logistics support. "The Rafale M has commonality with the Rafale operated by the IAF. Its procurement will substantially enhance joint operational capability, besides optimising training and logistics for the aircraft for both Indian Navy and IAF. The induction would lead to the addition of a potent force multiplier to the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers (INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya), substantially boosting the nation's air power at sea," the statement said. The Rafale M can carry 9,500kg of weapons, pods and fuel tanks under 13 external hardpoints. Powered by two Safran M88 engines, the aircraft can fly at a speed of Mach 1.8. The aircraft, manufactured by French plane maker Dassault Aviation, is being imported as an interim measure to meet the navy's urgent requirements until India develops its own twin-engine deck-based fighter. In July 2023, India's defence acquisition council (DAC), headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh, approved the navy's proposal to buy 26 Rafale M fighters to sharpen its operational capabilities. "This contract follows the announcement in July 2023 of the selection of the Rafale Marine, for which the Indian Navy will be the first user outside France...It confirms the Indian authorities' satisfaction with the aircraft's capabilities and their desire to broaden the spectrum of its operational use," Dassault Aviation said in a statement issued at Saint-Cloud in France. "On behalf of Dassault Aviation and its partners, I would like to thank the Indian authorities and reaffirm our unwavering determination to stand by their side to contribute to India's expression of its sovereign power, its strategic challenges and its ambitious vision of the future," said Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier. The French ambassador to India Thierry Mathousaidthe agreement marked a significant milestone in the bilateral strategic partnership. "Reflecting the deep mutual trust and confidence that underpin our defence cooperation, it also highlights the ability of the French industry to align with India's evolving needs. It paves the way for stronger industrial ties and opens new horizons for our partnership." The fighter, built for sustained combat operations at sea, is known to be a sturdy aircraft and comes with a raft of design features that significantly enhance its survivability in aircraft carrier operations that are demanding and expose deck-based assets to a highly corrosive environment. The Rafale M jets will help the navy project power in the Indo-Pacific where China seeks to boost its influence. Last year, India and France agreed to a new roadmap for defence industrial cooperation to identify opportunities for partnership in the vital sector, including co-designing, co-development and co-production of military hardware....