Indian Navy Submitted an RFI to Dassault about the Rafale M Carrier Capable Variant
 
Dassault Aviation chief executive officer Eric Trappier announced yesterday during a press conference that the French company has replied to a request for information from the Indian Navy on the naval Rafale M single-seat carrier-capable variant of its fighter.
Dassault Aviation chief executive officer Eric Trappier announced yesterday during a press conference that the French company has replied to a request for information from the Indian Navy on the naval Rafale M single-seat carrier-capable variant of its fighter.
 
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Naval Forces News - India
 
 
 
Indian Navy Submitted an RFI to Dassault about the Rafale M Carrier Capable Variant
 
Dassault Aviation chief executive officer Eric Trappier announced yesterday during a press conference that the French company has replied to a request for information from the Indian Navy on the naval Rafale M single-seat carrier-capable variant of its fighter.
     
Dassault Aviation chief executive officer Eric Trappier announced yesterday during a press conference that the French company has replied to a request for information from the Indian Navy on the naval Rafale M single-seat carrier-capable variant of its fighter. A Rafale M with an AM39 Exocet Anti-ship missile is launched from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. Archive picture: French Navy
     
India and France are in final negotiation for the procurement of 126 Rafale fighters for the Indian Air Force.

Indian Navy's current (INS Vikramaditya, INS Viraat) and near term (INS Vikrant) aircraft carriers are all fitted with a ramp for STOBAR type operations (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery). While likely capable of STOBAR operations, the Rafale M capabilities would be maximized with a CATOBAR type aircraft carrier (Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) like the US Navy aircraft carriers or the French Navy aircraft carrier.

Indian Navy's future INS Vishal might be nuclear-powered carrier with CATOBAR system.

To learn more: Rafale fighter technical datasheet