Indian Navy Begins Trials For Its First Rafale Marine Jets To Fly From Its Largest Indigenously Built Warship INS Vikrant

The Indian Navy is conducting trials of France’s Rafale-Marine fighter aircraft in Goa to assess the modifications required for the jets to operate from the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, defence officials said on Wednesday.

The trials are part of India’s preparations to induct 26 carrier-based fighters under a ₹63,000 crore agreement signed with France on April 28, 2025. Deliveries are expected to begin by the end of 2028 or early 2029, according to defence officials.

Built by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation, the Rafale-M is designed for aircraft carrier operations and is already in service with the French Navy. India will become the first international operator of the naval variant.

The trials in Goa will assess the Rafale-M’s compatibility with INS Vikrant’s launch and recovery systems and other onboard infrastructure.

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