A French-origin Rafale Marine (Rafale M) fighter aircraft successfully conducted its maiden landing and take-off aboard India’s indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
The official video of the successful trap landing on its very first attempt was released by the Indian Navy on Friday, marking a crucial operational milestone in testing the French aircraft’s compatibility with STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) carrier operations ahead of fleet induction.
Sea Trials and STOBAR Validation
The landing follows extensive shore-based test facility (SBTF) mock-up trials conducted at INS Hansa in Goa. Unlike France’s CATOBAR-equipped flagship Charles de Gaulle, India’s INS Vikrant utilizes a ski-jump ramp for launches and arrestor wires for recovery.
- Acquisition Profile: India signed a ₹63,000-crore government-to-government agreement with France in April 2025 to procure 26 Rafale Marine fighters (22 single-seaters and 4 twin-seater trainers) from Dassault Aviation. Deliveries are slated to run from late 2028 through 2031.
- Carrier Integration: Ongoing trials aim to validate technical modifications, including weapon pylon alignments, carrier elevator clearances, and onboard support infrastructure required for seamlessly hosting the aircraft.
- Operational Bridge: The Rafale M fleet will operate alongside and gradually replace the Indian Navy’s Russian-origin MiG-29K fleet, providing interim blue-water superiority until India’s indigenous Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) enters service.
Broader Defence Aviation Context
INS Vikrant—commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2022 at a cost of ₹20,000 crore—boasts 76% indigenous content and accommodates up to 30 aircraft.
Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force (IAF), which currently operates 36 land-based Rafale jets, is advancing negotiations for a proposed Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) deal for 114 additional Rafales, with local manufacturing planned under a joint venture model.
