Demonstration Of Rafale Maritime Fighter Aircraft Begins In Goa

Demonstration of Rafale maritime fighter aircraft begins in Goa.

France eyeing the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier fighter jet deal France on Thursday sent a Rafale maritime fighter jet to a naval base in Goa to demonstrate its combat capabilities.

The Indian Navy is planning to procure a fleet of fighter jets for the indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) Vikrant, which is likely to enter service in August.

Sources said that the demonstration of the naval version of the Rafale aircraft has begun at the Coast-Based Test Center (SBTF) in Goa.

The Indian Navy issued a request for information (RFI) in 2017 for the purchase of 57 fighter jets for its aircraft carrier.

Four aircraft were in competition for the deal, including the Rafale (Dassault, France), the F-18 Super Hornet (Boeing, USA), the MiG-29K (Russia), and the Gripen (Saab, Sweden).

Demonstration of Rafale maritime fighter aircraft begins: The remaining contenders are also likely to bring their planes to India for demonstration in the next few months.

While the F-18, Rafale, and MiG-29K are twin-engined aircraft, the Gripen is a single-engine aircraft.

It is noteworthy that this year the Indian Navy will get the second aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

India’s own-made Vikrant will join the Navy in August. Which fighter aircraft will be deployed on it, it is yet to be decided.

For this, there is a competition between Rafale M made by Dassault Aviation Company of France and F / A-18 of American company Boeing.

The Navy needs 26-27 fighter jets for the new aircraft carrier. Let us inform you that the Indian Air Force has already got 33 out of 36 Rafale aircraft.

The Government of India had signed a deal with the French Government in September 2016 for 36 Rafale aircraft at a cost of Rs 59 thousand crores.

The Indian Navy is currently using the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. MiG-29 fighter jets procured from Russia have been deployed on this ship.