Rafale-Marine (Rafale-M) Fighter Jet

Rafale-Marine (Rafale-M) Fighter Jet: Recently, India and France confirmed the conclusion of the ₹63,000-crore government-to-government (G-to-G) deal for 26 Rafale-Marine (Rafale-M) fighter jets.

• About Rafale-M Fighter Jet: Naval variant of the Dassault Rafale, a 4.5-generation, twin-engine, delta-wing and multirole fighter aircraft.

o Performs multiple roles: air superiority, ground support, reconnaissance, and anti-ship missions.

o Equipped with advanced systems like RBE2 AESA radar, SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, front sector optronics, and omnidirectional warning systems.

o Powered by two SNECMA M88 turbofan engines, enabling supercruise (supersonic flight without afterburners).

o Capable of speeds up to Mach 1.8, a combat radius over 1,000 km, and carrying up to 9,500 kg of payload across 14 hardpoints.

o Other Rafale variants include Rafale C (single-seat) and Rafale B (twin-seat for training and combat).

o India’s deal includes 22 single-seater carrier-operable Rafale-M jets and 4 twin-seater trainers (land-based only).