Latest news with #RafaleM
Indian Express
04-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Sub Lieutenant Astha Poonia becomes Indian Navy's first woman fighter pilot trainee
Sub Lieutenant Astha Poonia has become the first woman to be streamed into the fighter stream of Naval Aviation, the Navy said Friday. Once she completes her year-long training, she would qualify for the fighter stream of naval aviation and may fly the MiG-29K or Rafale M fighter jet off the Navy's aircraft carriers. The Navy's announcement came after the winging ceremony of the second basic Hawk conversion course. Advanced flying training of India military pilots take place in the British-origin Hawk Mk 132 advanced jet trainer before they train on frontline fighter jets. 'On 3 July 2025, Lieutenant Atul Kumar Dhull and Sub Lieutenant Astha Poonia received the prestigious 'Wings of Gold' from Rear Admiral Janak Bevli, ACNS (Air),' the navy said in a statement. 'SLt Aastha Poonia becomes the first woman to be streamed into the Fighter stream of Naval Aviation – Shattering barriers and paving way for a new era of women fighter pilots in the Navy,' it said. Defence sources said SLt Poonia is from Meerut and does not hail from a military background. She has completed her BTech, before applying for the aviation branch in the Navy. The Navy has already inducted women officers as pilots and naval air operations officers in maritime reconnaissance aircraft and helicopters. 'Streaming of SLt Aastha Poonia into the Fighter Stream highlights the Indian Navy's commitment towards gender inclusivity in Naval Aviation and promoting Nari Shakti, fostering a culture of equality and opportunity,' the Navy said. The Navy operates two aircraft carriers, which are the INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. The MiG-29K is the primary aircraft that operates from INS Vikramaditya. In April this year, India and France inked an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for the procurement of 26 Rafale Aircraft (22 Single-Seater and four Twin-Seater) for the Indian Navy. With the MiG-29 Ks slated to be phased out in the next few years, procuring the jet is an interim arrangement for the Navy's aircraft carriers—INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant—till it acquires the indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) which is currently under development by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the DRDO.
Hindustan Times
06-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Rafale fuselage to be made in India for the first time
The main body of future Rafale fighter jets will be produced in India, outside France for the first time, with French aircraft maker Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) on Thursday announcing their partnership to build Rafale fuselage at a facility being set up in Hyderabad, in a move that is seen as a big leap for the government's wide-ranging Make-in-India initiative. The Hyderabad facility will supply the fuselages for India and other international markets 2028 onwards, the two firms said. Some of the 26 Rafale Marine fighters ordered by India for its navy will come with locally produced fuselages, people aware of the matter said. Dassault Aviation and TASL have signed four production transfer agreements to manufacture the Rafale fuselage in India and called it a significant step forward in strengthening the country's aerospace manufacturing capabilities and supporting global supply chains. 'Under the scope of the partnership, TASL will set up a cutting-edge production facility in Hyderabad for the manufacture of key structural sections of the Rafale, including the lateral shells of the rear fuselage, the complete rear section, the central fuselage, and the front section,' the two firms said in a joint statement issued in Saint-Cloud and Mumbai. The announcement comes weeks after India signed a ₹63,000-crore deal with France to buy 26 Rafale M aircraft for the navy which will operate them from its two aircraft carriers, with the deliveries expected to begin in three years and be completed by 2030. The April 28 government-to-government deal for 22 single-seat Rafale M fighters and four twin-seat trainers included 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 Hyderabad facility represents a significant investment in India's aerospace infrastructure and will serve as a critical hub for high-precision manufacturing, the statement said. The first fuselage sections are expected to roll off the assembly line in 2028, with the facility expected to deliver up to two complete fuselages every month. 'For the first time, Rafale fuselages will be produced outside France,' Dassault Aviation chairman Eric Trappier said. 'This is a decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India. Thanks to the expansion of our local partners, including TASL, this supply chain will contribute to the successful ramp-up of the Rafale and, with our support, will meet our quality and competitiveness requirements.' The development comes at a critical moment as the Indian Air Force (IAF) is scouting for 114 multi-role fighter aircraft to boost its capabilities, and the programme will involve a global plane maker setting up a production agency in the country along with an Indian partner. Dassault Aviation is among the foreign firms interested in that programme. In February, the chief of the air staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said such a model will give the air force an alternative option for any future design, including a stealth fighter, rather than depending only on the capabilities of state-run plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The IAF operates 36 Rafale jets bought from France at a cost of ₹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. Some of the air force's Rafales were among the fighter jets used during Operation Sindoor --- India's strikes on terror and military installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the Pahalgam terror attack. This partnership marks a significant step in India's aerospace journey, TASL CEO Sukaran Singh said. 'The production of the complete Rafale fuselage in India underscores the deepening trust in TASL's capabilities and the strength of our collaboration with Dassault Aviation. It also reflects the remarkable progress India has made in establishing a modern, robust aerospace manufacturing ecosystem that can support global platforms.' This is the way forward for the local aerospace manufacturing sector, said Air Vice Marshal Anil Golani (retd), the director general of Centre for Air Power Studies, an influential think tank. 'We couldn't have asked for a better opportunity to manufacture not just fuselages but entire fighter airframes in the future.' TASL is swiftly expanding its footprint in the aerospace manufacturing sector. TASL and European firm Airbus Defence and Space are jointly executing a ₹21,935-crore project to equip the IAF with 56 C-295 aircraft to modernise its transport fleet, including 16 in fly-away condition. The first made-in-India C-295 will roll out of a facility in Vadodara in September 2026 and the remaining 39 by August 2031. US aerospace firm Lockheed Martin is partnering with TASL to bid for the IAF's medium transport aircraft (MTA) competition for up to 80 planes. The joint venture Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) is producing Apache attack helicopter fuselages in Hyderabad. And Airbus Helicopters is setting up a production line in India for H125 helicopters in partnership with TASL --- the fourth such facility in the world.
Hindustan Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
France's Dassault, Tata ink deal to make Rafale fuselages in India
French manufacturer Dassault Aviation and India's Tata Advanced Systems Limited have signed four agreements to manufacture the fuselage of Rafale fighter aircraft in India. 'This facility represents a significant investment in India's aerospace infrastructure and will serve as a critical hub for high-precision manufacturing,' a joint press release issued by the companies said. 'Under the scope of the partnership, Tata Advanced Systems will set up a cutting-edge production facility in Hyderabad for the manufacture of key structural sections of the Rafale, including the lateral shells of the rear fuselage, the complete rear section, the central fuselage, and the front section,' it added. As per the deal, the first fuselage sections are expected to roll off the assembly line in 2028. The facility is expected to deliver up to two complete fuselages per month. Eric Trappier, chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, said that this is the first time Rafale fuselages will be produced outside France. Also Read | Modi govt adds military teeth by massive capital spending "This is a decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India. Thanks to the expansion of our local partners, including TASL, one of the major players in the Indian aerospace industry, this supply chain will contribute to the successful ramp-up of the Rafale and, with our support, will meet our quality and competitiveness requirements," said Eric Trappier. Sukaran Singh, the chief executive officer and managing director of Tata Advanced Systems Limited, said that the partnership marks a significant step in India's aerospace journey. 'This partnership marks a significant step in India's aerospace journey. The production of the complete Rafale fuselage in India underscores the deepening trust in Tata Advanced Systems' capabilities and the strength of our collaboration with Dassault Aviation," Singh said. "It also reflects the remarkable progress India has made in establishing a modern, robust aerospace manufacturing ecosystem that can support global platforms,' he added. Last month, India and France signed a key deal to procure 26 naval variants of Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around ₹63,000 crore for the Indian Navy. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the government-to-government deal for 22 single-seat Rafale M fighters and four twin-seat trainers this month, Hindustan Times had earlier reported.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
French Navy Offers Sneak Peek Of Its Future Carrier Air Wing
A French Navy official has laid out a broad plan for the country's carrier air wing from up to 2045. While the plan likely highlights just one vision of the kinds of aircraft we're likely to see aboard the French Navy's carrier in the future, it's notable in that it includes a significant drone component, alongside advanced crewed aircraft. France has a single nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, currently in operation, and is planning to build an even more capable flattop to replace it, around 2038. The plan was presented in the form of a slide in a briefing by a French Navy official at the Combined Naval Event (CNE) that took place in Farnborough, England, this week. The event was conducted under Chatham House rules, meaning that information can be freely shared, but the identity of the speaker cannot be disclosed. The slide, seen below, was shared with TWZ by Navy Lookout, which provides independent naval news and analysis. The slide shows three different compositions for the French Navy's carrier air wing, starting in 2038. Whether coincidental or not, this is around the time that the Charles de Gaulle should be replaced by the Porte-Avions de Nouvelle Génération, or PA-Ng, which translates to New Generation Aircraft Carrier. You can read more about this warship here. As of 2038, the air wing is still based around the two main fixed-wing types now in service aboard the Charles de Gaulle, the Rafale M multirole fighter, and the E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. These are shown complemented by a rotary-wing drone, which appears to be the Airbus Helicopters VSR700, but it may also be intended to represent this kind of capability more generically. The VSR700 is in development for the French Navy, after flight tests of a demonstrator version from one of its FREMM frigates in 2023. The drone is being proposed for intelligence, surveillance, targeting, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) and anti-submarine warfare operations, but could also undertake logistics, especially valuable aboard an aircraft carrier, and other tasks. There are various other alternatives to the VSR700, as well, most notably Austria's Schiebel S-300 rotary-wing drone, which will likely compete with it for French Navy orders. By 2038, the slide indicates that the French Navy will be operating the F5 version of the Rafale M, which will bring a host of new capabilities compared with the current F3 model. The F5 version of the Rafale, which will be in both land-based and carrier-compatible versions, is something we have discussed in the past. Standard F5 is planned to keep the Rafale in frontline service until around 2060. This latest iteration of the aircraft will focus on collaborative combat, as well as incorporating new-generation weapons, among them the ASN4G, the next-generation standoff nuclear weapon. #ASN4G – is the planned nuclear-armed #hypersonic cruise #missile intended to replace the ASMP-A #supersonic nuclear missile currently in service. The missile will equip the F4 variant of the Rafale fighter as well as Future Combat Air System vehicles#ArméeDelAir #FrenchAirForce — 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝕯𝔢𝔞𝔡 𝕯𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔱△ (@TheDeadDistrict) May 28, 2020 Other new weapons for Standard F5 are expected to include successors for the SCALP conventional cruise missile and the Exocet anti-ship missile, with a hypersonic design being examined for the latter requirement. Air-to-air munitions should include an upgraded Meteor beyond-visual-range missile. Very significantly, the F5 version is also planned to be fielded alongside a new, French-developed uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV), of which more later. The next configuration of the carrier air wing is for 2040, by which time two new types of drones are shown as being in service. These are described loosely as an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) and an uncrewed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) on the slide and are illustrated with an MQ-9 and a Dassault nEUROn demonstrator, respectively. The F5 version of the Rafale M and the E-2D will also still be in service at this point. The UCAV, illustrated by the stealthy flying-wing nEUROn, may well be intended to represent the drone that France plans to introduce to work alongside the F5 Rafale, as well as independently. We already know this drone program will be headed up by Dassault Aviation and will draw upon the company's experience with the nEUROn. The new UCAV has already been billed as being 'complementary to the Rafale and suited to collaborative combat.' It will also have stealth characteristics, including an internal payload. The drone will feature autonomous control, with a human-in-the-loop (in the case of collaborative operations, the pilot in the cockpit of the Rafale). According to Dassault, the UCAV 'will be highly versatile and designed to evolve in line with future threats.' Its missions are expected to include suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses (SEAD/DEAD), in which the Rafale would benefit hugely from a low-observable loyal-wingman-type drone to operate in concert with the crewed fighter. As for the MQ-9, the land-based Reaper is already in French service, but its manufacturer, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), is busily pursuing ways of adapting MQ-9-series drones for aircraft carrier operations. The company has devised a wing-kit which turns the MQ-9B into a big deck ship-deployable drone. It has also demonstrated its Mojave, specifically developed with the ability to perform short takeoffs and landings, including from different aircraft carriers. The same capabilities found in the Mojave demonstrator have meanwhile been ported over into the Gray Eagle STOL — a design we have discussed in depth in the past. Should the French Navy be interested in fielding a member of the wider family of Q-1 lineage drones aboard its carrier, that would certainly be an option. A drone of this kind could also serve as a sea control/anti-submarine warfare platform, as well as take on other roles such as airborne early warning radar and a networking node 'truck.' Meanwhile, in low-threat environments, it could even be used for reconnaissance and strike. The final carrier air wing configuration shown is for 2045, by which time, more significant developments will have changed the face of the aircraft on the deck of the French Navy's carrier. The spearhead of the 2045 carrier air wing is the navalized version of the Next Generation Fighter (NGF). This will be provided with its own air-launched Remote Carriers, a type of store that will increasingly blur the distinction between cruise missiles and drones, and which will deliver kinetic effects as well as carrying other types of payloads. As TWZ wrote about in the past: 'The requirement to have NGF — or a version of NGF — able to operate from French Navy aircraft carriers will bring additional challenges to the design, chiefly in the form of landing gear able to absorb deck landings, as well as catapult launch and arrester gear. The airframe would also have to be more robust for carrier operations, adding mass to the design, and that naval requirement would have to be accounted for in the wing and control surface design in order to allow for optimized carrier recovery. At the very least, this would necessitate a variant that is built for carrier operations, which would increase cost and timeline.' It has also been reported that the NGF may be too large to be easily accommodated on the Charles de Gaulle. The new fighter is likely to weigh in the region of 33 tons, compared to around 27 tons for a fully loaded Rafale. A larger airframe could translate to considerable range, as well as the ability to carry a significant payload internally. However, with the new carrier planned to be available from around 2038, the navalized NGF likely won't have to embark on the Charles de Gaulle. At the same time, the F5 version of the Rafale M and the E-2D will continue to serve alongside the NGF, at least for a while. The Rafale M could also be a potential launch platform for Remote Carriers. The NGF is being developed as the centerpiece of the pan-European Future Combat Air System (FCAS), not to be confused with the U.K.-led effort of the same name. The pan-European FCAS will include uncrewed air vehicles as well as uncrewed effectors and the aforementioned Remote Carriers. Perhaps most intriguingly, the uncrewed component for the 2045 carrier air wing now also includes the Airbus Wingman uncrewed concept aircraft, which was not previously known to be intended for carrier operations. The French Navy is clearly giving some thought to the potential of a fighter-like, stealthy drone within its carrier air wing, and as a capability to be introduced after a flying-wing-type UCAV. The Wingman, unveiled by Airbus last summer, is also intended to fly collaborative missions alongside crewed fighters. It has been pitched as a low-cost solution, with a price tag equivalent to one-third that of a modern crewed fighter, that can be brought into production and fielded rapidly. According to Airbus, the German Air Force has 'expressed a clear need' for a drone of this kind that would be able to operate in conjunction with crewed fighters before the arrival in service of the pan-European FCAS. As we noted at the time, it's hard to envisage that Airbus could develop and build the Wingman solely to meet a German requirement, and interest in a carrier-based version from France could give the program a valuable boost, were that to become formalized. Once again, it should be noted that this is very much a suggestion of possible carrier air wing configurations through to 2045 and very much not a program of record. It is, however, interesting to see that the French Navy is considering the possibilities of operating different types of drones aboard its carriers, including the fighter-like Wingman and some kind of development of the nEUROn, or equivalent, which could provide powerful strike and ISTAR capabilities, if pursued. The timeline also suggests that France is first looking to introduce a heavier, carrier-based, traditional stealthy UCAV with added collaborative capabilities, rather than a loyal wingman-type drone, first. It is likely that one reason for this is the need to combine the non-stealthy Rafale with a higher-end drone partner to remain relevant in highly contested combat environments in the future. Range is also likely an issue, with UCAV concepts generally possessing a combat radius in multiples of their manned fighter counterparts. This is key to the relevancy of the carrier going forward. Also worth noting is the fact that China also appears to be betting big on a similar concept, starting with carrier-based UCAVs, something that the U.S. Navy has passed over entirely. With its increasingly unmanned carrier air wing, the French Navy is very much following broader trends in China, the United States, and elsewhere. In the past, the U.S. Navy has said it wants to have uncrewed platforms make up the majority of its future carrier air wings, with up to 60 percent of all aircraft on each flattop being pilotless in the coming decade or two. More recently, however, the Navy has talked about scaling back its ambitions for developing and fielding carrier-based Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), at least in terms of how quickly it might want to pursue them. Instead, the U.S. Navy is putting more effort into its MQ-25 Stingray tanker drone and its supporting infrastructure. Meanwhile, although it is experimenting with the CCA concept, the Navy is allowing the other services, especially the U.S. Air Force, to prove this out in a full-operational service context. With that in mind, the French Navy's apparent consideration of stealthy UCAVs as part of its future carrier air wing is especially notable. Again, it highlights a glaring gap in the U.S. combat aircraft space, one we have been pointing out in detail for many years. Undoubtedly, there's growing interest in stealthy UCAVs around the world, including for embarking on carriers. It will be interesting to see what direction the French Navy takes as it starts to assemble the air wing for its next-generation carrier. Contact the author: thomas@
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Rafale-M roars after Pahalgam: How India's French fighter deal could turn up the heat on Pakistan
India's recent agreement with France to acquire 26 Rafale-Marine aircraft has been described as a strategic move amid ongoing tensions with Pakistan. The timing of the deal—just days after the Pahalgam terror attack—has raised its symbolic and operational significance. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Nuclear Power! How India and Pakistan's arsenals stack up Does America have a plan to capture Pakistan's nuclear weapons? Airspace blockade: India plots a flight path to skip Pakistan "During such a time, when there is a lot of tension going on between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack , the signing of this deal is going to mount pressure on Pakistan... In the coming days, whatever action India takes against Pakistan, Rafale will play a key role," defence analyst Sanjeev Srivastava told ANI. He added, "This deal will strengthen India's defence position against Pakistan, and it will keep pressure on them also... The aircraft will be operating from India's two aircraft carriers, which are expected to be delivered between 2028 and 2030. But this has happened amid tension and it will, without any doubt, keep the adversaries under pressure." 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by India-France sign $7.5 billion naval Rafale deal The agreement was signed under an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) framework. It includes 22 single-seat Rafale M aircraft and four twin-seat Rafale D jets. The package also includes training modules, simulators, associated weapons, equipment, and a five-year performance-based logistics support system, according to statements from the Indian Ministry of Defence and the French Embassy in India. Present at the signing were France's Ambassador to India, Thierry Mathou, and India's Defence Secretary, Rajesh Kumar, along with senior officials and industry partners. This deal marks the first-ever export order for the naval version of the Rafale jet, manufactured by Dassault Aviation . Live Events Aerospace cooperation with a Make-in-India boost The Rafale M jets, expected to be delivered between 2028 and 2030, will fly from INS Vikrant and support the existing MiG-29K fleet. But the significance of this deal extends beyond new aircraft. It also includes critical clauses for indigenisation. "In line with the Government's thrust on Aatmanirbhar Bharat , the agreement includes Transfer of Technology for integration of indigenous weapons in India. It also includes setting up of production facilities for Rafale Fuselage as well as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facilities for aircraft engine, sensors, and weapons in India,' said the Ministry of Defence. The Transfer of Technology clause could enable integration of the Indian-made beyond visual range missile, Astra, onto the Rafale platform. Dassault has already begun building a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Uttar Pradesh as part of its offset commitments for previous Rafale purchases. Why interoperability matters for the Navy and Air Force Dassault's Rafale-M won the bid over Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet, largely due to its operational compatibility with the Indian Air Force's (IAF) 36 Rafales, already stationed at Ambala and Hasimara. Both services—the IAF and the Navy—will now benefit from shared systems and logistics. This includes the "buddy-buddy" aerial refuelling system, which allows one aircraft to refuel another in flight. Such interoperability improves operational endurance and simplifies maintenance cycles. The IAF operates the Rafale C, and the Navy's Rafale M has a high degree of equipment and airframe commonality with it. This reduces the complexity of training and supply chains. Aiming for more than just aircraft This agreement could also set the stage for future Rafale orders. With its current fleet strength below the sanctioned 42 squadrons, the IAF is exploring options to expand its inventory while avoiding excessive diversification. The push to integrate indigenous weapons, like the Astra missile, requires access to the Rafale's source code—a point of negotiation with Dassault Aviation. Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh has previously cited the British-origin Jaguar as a model, allowing India to regularly upgrade avionics and weapons thanks to licensed production. Replicating this model with the Rafale would support long-term self-reliance and modernisation. Lessons from Mirage: Why domestic production matters India's earlier acquisition of the Mirage 2000 jets highlights the importance of local manufacturing. Between 1982 and 1985, the IAF purchased 51 Mirage jets in flyaway condition. Over the years, spare parts and upgrades became a challenge. India had to procure second-hand jets to cannibalise for spares. Even after a costly upgrade deal with Thales in 2011, the mid-life overhaul of the Mirage fleet has been slow. In contrast, the licensed manufacturing of Jaguars and Su-30 MKIs allowed India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to maintain and upgrade them locally, ensuring longer operational relevance. The Rafale deal now seeks to follow this path. This contract not only equips India's Navy with state-of-the-art jets, but also builds infrastructure for long-term support. The MRO facility in India will also handle depot-level maintenance of the M88 engine—the first such facility outside France. Overhaul of MICA missiles is also planned under this framework. By linking strategic deterrence with domestic capability building, the Rafale-M deal signals more than a weapons purchase. It reflects a broader shift in India's defence policy—towards resilience, preparedness, and industrial self-reliance. Manufactured by Dassault Aviation, the Rafale M is a proven carrier-based combat aircraft. Deliveries of the Rafale M jets are expected to begin in 2028 and are anticipated to be completed by 2030. The Rafale M jets will operate from INS Vikrant and support the existing Mig-29 K fleet. The Indian Air Force already operates a fleet of 36 Rafale aircraft acquired under a separate deal signed in 2016. These aircraft are based at Ambala and Hasimara. The new deal will raise the total number of Rafale jets in India to 62, significantly boosting the country's fleet of 4.5-generation fighter aircraft.
