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India had issued a Request for off with a maximum weight of 24.5 versions). The Mirages were
Information (RFI) for Multi-Role tonnes and carry an external load upgraded with new radars, mission
Carrier Borne Fighter (MRCBF) of up to 9.5 tonnes. It can reach computers and electronic warfare
procurement in January 2017 a maximum speed of 750 knots (EW) suites (from Thales) in 2011.
for 57 fighters, which was sub- (1,389 km/h) and operate efficiently
sequently reduced to 26 fighters at altitudes up to 50,000 feet.
to be procured via the govern-
ment-to-government (G2G) route. The Rafale M excels in both air- Prior to the 2016 Rafale G2G deal,
Earlier, India had procured 36 to-ground and air-to-air missions. the 2005 Scorpene deal for six
Rafale aircraft for the Indian Air It supports various armaments, submarines was another major
Force (IAF). including the long-range Meteor acquisition from France. Following
missile, MICA missiles, HAMMER, an international competition
France operates the Rafale fighters SCALP, AM39 EXOCET, laser- launched by the Indian authorities,
for the Navy and the Air Force with guided bombs, and a 2,500 the decision to go for Rafale M
common maintenance and stores. rounds-per-minute NEXTER inter- came after a successful trial cam-
India, with 36 Rafale jets already in nal cannon. paign held in India, during which
service with the IAF, is also likely to the Navy Rafale demonstrated
benefit from shared maintenance The OEM described Rafale M as that it fully met the Indian Navy’s
and stores, reducing overall con- an “omnirole aircraft,” that can operational requirements and was
tract costs. India is the first country adapt to diverse combat scenarios perfectly suited to the specificities
to make the same military choice as and threats, making it a valuable of its aircraft carrier, the MoD official
France by operating both versions asset for the Indian Navy. French pointed out. “This selection
of the aircraft. fighter aircraft in India’s inventory confirms the excellence of
date back to 1953, when the IAF the Rafale, the exceptional
Manufactured by Dassault Aviation, acquired the Ouragans (Toofani), quality of the link between
the Rafale M is a versatile, sin- becoming Dassault Aviation’s first Dassault Aviation and the
gle-seat aircraft capable of multiple export customer. Subsequently, Indian Forces, and the
missions including air defense, the IAF also procured the Jaguars
nuclear deterrence, deep strikes, (beginning from 1978) and the importance of the strategic
and reconnaissance. It has a Mirage 2000, from 1982 onwards. relationship between India
wingspan of 10.90 meters, a length India currently has more than and France,” said Eric Trappier,
of 15.30 meters, and a height of 100 Jaguars and more than 50 Chairman and CEO of Dassault
5.30 meters. The aircraft can take Mirage 2000s (single and dual-seat Aviation..

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