As the Indian Navy prepares to induct Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1 (IAC-1), officially christened as INS Vikrant, into service by August 2022, Dassault's Rafale-Marine or Rafale M will soon begin at its shore-based test facility located in its premier naval air station INS Hansa in Goa, Hindustan Times reported. The 40,000-tonne aircraft carrier is currently undergoing comprehensive and exhaustive sea trials at Cochin shipyard in the Indian Ocean.
The Indian Navy operates Mikoyan MiG-29K on its lone operational aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya. But as per a report by Forbes, the Navy has been facing technical issues in-terms of the aircraft’s fly-by-wire system, its airframe, airframe, etc. The Navy has also lost three of those Russian planes to accident between November 2019 and November 2020. These maritime fighter jets are scheduled to be decommissioned by 2034. The aircraft Carrier is also facing certain maintenance issues as well as problems in availability of spare parts.
The Indian Navy issued a Request for Interest (RFI) for the acquisition of 57 multi-role carrier-borne fighter aircraft back in 2017. And among the companies which have shown intertest are Rafale and Boeing.
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As per a media report by Hindustan Times, the Navy will make the Rafale M undergo extensive trials at the 283-metre mock-up ski jump facility at INS Hansa for a period of almost two weeks to understand and assess the jet’s operational compatibility with IAC-1. The report also mentions that the Navy may also test Boeing F-18 Hornet jets as a second option. Both Rafale M and Boeing F-18 are proven jets in terms of their operational capabilities.
While the decision to award the contract will be based on rigorous examinations and evaluations after the flight-trails, it is said that Rafale dominates Boeing in terms of longer-range air to air missiles and air to land missiles. The same HT report quotes defence experts saying that owing to F-18’s larger airframe, IAC-1 will require certain systemic modifications. The report mentions that the Indian Navy might ask Dassault to lease some of these aircrafts this year to ensure that the IAC-1 is fully operational when it is commissioned by PM Modi on 15th August.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Agency is currently developing indigenous Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF). As per reports, the first trial of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA M) is expected by 2026, with its final induction planned by 2031.
