Indian Navy Begins Carrier Trials as Rafale Marine Jet Lands on INS Vikrant for First Time

Key facts

• A Rafale Marine fighter jet landed on India's indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant for the first time on October 29, 2026, succeeding on its maiden attempt, as confirmed by the Indian Navy.
• The ongoing sea trials mark the first major step toward operationalising the French-origin Rafale Marine aircraft within the Indian Navy's carrier aviation wing.
• Before the deck landing, the Navy conducted simulated flight trials at the Shore-Based Test Facility (SBTF) at INS Hansa in Goa, which replicates the ski-jump ramp system used on Indian carriers.
• The Rafale Marine, built by Dassault Aviation, is designed for France's Charles de Gaulle carrier (CATOBAR), while India's INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya use the STOBAR ski-jump launch and arrestor-wire recovery configuration.
• The evaluation program focuses on validating the jet's STOBAR takeoff and landing margins, deck-handling protocols, hangar clearances, and lift compatibility for its 10.9-metre wingspan.
• India signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement with France on April 28, 2025, to procure 26 Rafale Marine aircraft at an estimated cost of ₹63,000 crore.
• The order comprises 22 single-seat combat fighters and four twin-seat trainers, with deliveries scheduled to conclude by 2030.
• The deal includes weapons suites, simulators, training in France and India, MRO facilities, fuselage fabrication in India, and technology transfer for integrating indigenous weapons.
• Once inducted, the Rafale Marine fleet will operate from INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, boosting the Navy's long-range maritime strike and fleet air defence capabilities across the Indian Ocean region.