Aerospace

Indian Navy to buy Rafale M fighter plane after IAF?

The internal news that India would purchase more Rafale Jets for the Indian Navy as part of a fresh batch of upgraded fighter jets for Indian defence is being released by the French media. According to the source, the two nations can sign this agreement when French President Emmanuel Macron travels to India in March.

As part of an ongoing deal for fighter jets for the aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy, two fighter jets from different countries are involved: one is the French-built Dassault Rafale and the other is an American F/A18 Super Hornet. A few months ago, the two fighter jets demonstrated their ability to conduct operations over the Indian aircraft carrier. The race to acquire this contract could be a significant development for the Indian Navy’s future aircraft supplies.

A total of 36 fighter planes built by Rafale have already entered service with the Indian Air Force. France is now looking for the fighter jet requirements from the Indian Navy. As stated, it will offer all necessary assistance for Indian defence, and it is also constructing component production in India with local suppliers.

It is French media claimed that India turned down the American Jet F/A 18 super hornet and opted instead for the Rafale agreement. This agreement will mark a significant turning point in Indian-French ties. Additionally, according to the media source, the Indian Navy is ready to agree to a multi-billion dollar purchase agreement with France for 26 Rafale M aircraft.

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The opposite The American company Boeing has previously stated that the F/A Super Hornet was specifically designed for naval carriers, has a wide range of features, connects to Boeing P8 maritime aircraft for surveillance support, and has the newest aircraft, all of which have improved India’s ability to fight off enemies.

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43 obsolete Russian MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB fighter planes are now in the Indian Navy’s fleet. The Navy had numerous potential names for the aircraft, but the Rafale M and the F-18 ultimately won the race. 240 Rafale M planes are now in the French Navy. These jets have been produced by Dassault since 1986.

The Indian New Aircraft Carrier is equipped with the newest defence weaponry, as well as—and this is crucial—aircraft accommodation on its deck that is appropriate for the Rafale and Super Hornet.

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In addition to France and India, Egypt, Qatar, and Greece all fly state-of-the-art French fighter jets. The UAE and Indonesia also agreed to buy 80 Rafales in December 2021 and 42 Rafales in February 2022, respectively.

According to certain sources, the Rafale jets might be very significant to the Indian armed forces. In technical terms, Rafale will be simple to maintain as it is already in use by the Indian Defense. Another major issue with this purchase is the two-seater Rafale, which Dassault does not supply even though it could be appropriate for the Indian aircraft carrier. but in addition, it will equip this fighter with the MBDA and other armaments.

With the purchase of the Boeing military, Chinook, P8, and Apache aircraft, India and the US have already established defence connections. Even if they lose their contract, Boeing won’t be significantly impacted. But according to French media, there is no proof to far that India is indeed interested in purchasing Rafale fighters for its Indian Navy.

Source: First Post

Aerospace

When Ratan Tata was denied entry to the airfield at the Aero India show, he waited

During our visit to Aero India 2019, we had the unexpected opportunity to see Ratan Tata at the event, which was a thrilling moment for us. However, there was a surprising hiccup when the security staff didn’t allow him to enter due to a lack of a security pass.

Despite this, he remained calm and patiently waited for about 20 minutes until a member of the Tata team brought him the required pass, after which he calmly proceeded inside. It was a humbling sight, showcasing his composed demeanor even in such situations.

Ratan Tata ji is not only a renowned industrialist but also a trained pilot, holding a pilot’s license. In 2007, he became the first Indian civilian to fly the F-16 Falcon during the Aero India show in Bangalore—a proud moment for the nation.

His passion for aviation extended beyond flying, as he played a key role in shaping India’s aerospace industry. Under his leadership, Tata ventured into manufacturing and maintaining aerospace components while upholding its legacy of quality. Notably, Tata’s collaboration with Airbus to develop and manufacture the C295 aircraft is a testament to its growing influence in the sector.