Rafale-M lands on INS Vikrant October 29 in carrier trials
Big day for the Indian Navy: on October 29, a Rafale Marine fighter jet touched down on INS Vikrant, India's homegrown aircraft carrier.
This test flight is all about making sure the new Rafale-M jets can work smoothly from Indian carriers.
It's a key step as India gets ready to bring in 26 of these advanced jets from France, aiming to level up its naval power.
₹63,000cr Rafale-M deal includes technology transfer
The Rafale-M deal is worth ₹63,000 crore and includes not just the jets but also training, simulators, weapons, and technology transfer to facilitate the integration of indigenous weapons into the aircraft in line with India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The new fighters are set to arrive between 2028 and 2029 and will make both INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya even stronger at sea: think better air defense, maritime strikes, and surveillance.
This successful landing shows India is serious about building up its own capabilities while teaming up with global partners.