Quick answer: On 29 October 2026 a Rafale Marine (Rafale-M) fighter landed on the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, and it did so on its first attempt. The landing was part of carrier-compatibility trials. The Indian Navy announced it on 30 October 2026, calling it the first step towards operationalising the 26 Rafale-M jets India ordered from France in April 2025.
Why Rafale Marine on INS Vikrant is in the news
In a post on X on 30 October 2026, the Indian Navy said a Rafale Marine aircraft had landed on board INS Vikrant on its maiden attempt on 29 October. The Navy described the work as “ongoing trials”, not a bilateral exercise. Defence reports say the landing came after shore trials at the Navy’s Shore-Based Test Facility (SBTF) at INS Hansa, Goa, where the jet flew ski-jump take-offs and approach landings. Captain Ashok Rao, Commanding Officer of INS Vikrant, was in command for the landing.
India’s own Rafale-M jets have not yet been delivered. Some defence outlets reported that the trial aircraft was a French Navy jet, but the Navy’s statement does not say who owns it.
Key facts: the India-France Rafale-M deal
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Agreement type | Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) between India and France |
| Date signed | 28 April 2025. Copies were exchanged at Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi |
| Signatories | Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu |
| Aircraft | 26 Rafale-M: 22 single-seat and 4 twin-seat |
| Package | Training, simulator, associated equipment, weapons and performance-based logistics, plus extra equipment for the IAF’s existing Rafale fleet |
| Make in India content | Transfer of technology to integrate indigenous weapons, a Rafale fuselage production facility, and MRO facilities for engines, sensors and weapons |
| Delivery | To be completed by 2030. Crews train in France and India |
| Reported value | About Rs 63,000 crore (media figure; the PIB release does not state it) |
| Manufacturer | Dassault Aviation, France |
- The Ministry of Defence notes that the Rafale-M has commonality with the IAF’s Rafale, which makes training and logistics easier for both services.
- Reported weapons include Meteor and MICA air-to-air missiles, SCALP-EG for ground strike and the Exocet AM39 anti-ship missile. The jet carries the Thales RBE2 AESA radar.
- The Rafale-M will join the MiG-29K on Indian carriers. It is planned to fly from both INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
INS Vikrant: fact box
| Project | IAC-1, India’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier |
| Designer / builder | Navy’s Warship Design Bureau / Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi |
| Commissioned | 2 September 2022 by PM Narendra Modi at CSL. The new naval ensign was unveiled at the same ceremony |
| Size | About 45,000 tonnes and 262 m long (reported) |
| Cost | Close to Rs 20,000 crore (reported) |
| Recovery system | STOBAR: ski-jump launch, arrester-wire landing |
STOBAR vs CATOBAR: why the trials matter
The Rafale-M was built for France’s carrier Charles de Gaulle, which launches aircraft with catapults. Indian carriers have no catapult. A jet takes off under its own power from a ski-jump ramp and lands by catching an arrester wire with its tail hook. That is why the Navy is checking how the aircraft performs, how the deck handles it and what equipment needs to change before it can enter service.
| Feature | STOBAR | CATOBAR |
|---|---|---|
| Full form | Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery | Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery |
| Take-off | Jet’s own thrust plus a ski-jump ramp | Catapult flings the aircraft off the deck |
| Landing | Arrester wires | Arrester wires |
| Examples | INS Vikrant, INS Vikramaditya | France’s Charles de Gaulle |
| Trade-off | Simpler and cheaper, but limits take-off weight | Heavier loads at launch, but more complex machinery |
Exam angle: how NDA, CDS and CAPF can ask this
- Expect questions on the Rafale-M split (22 single-seat, 4 twin-seat) and the April 2025 signing date in NDA and CDS GK.
- INS Vikrant’s builder (CSL Kochi), project name (IAC-1) and commissioning date (2 September 2022) are standard static facts.
- The STOBAR/CATOBAR difference is a frequent conceptual question in defence-technology sections and SSB discussions.
Practice MCQs
Q1. INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, was built by:
(a) Mazagon Dock (b) Garden Reach Shipbuilders (c) Cochin Shipyard Limited (d) Hindustan Shipyard
Answer: (c) – IAC-1 was built at CSL, Kochi.
Q2. How many twin-seat aircraft are included in India’s 26 Rafale-M order?
(a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6 (d) 8
Answer: (b) – The order is 22 single-seat and 4 twin-seat jets.
Q3. In carrier aviation, STOBAR stands for:
(a) Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (b) Steam Take-Off and Barrier Recovery (c) Short Take-Off Ballistic Arrested Run (d) Standard Take-Off But Assisted Recovery
Answer: (a) – Indian carriers use a ski-jump for launch and arrester wires for landing.
Q4. The Rafale-M landed on INS Vikrant for the first time on:
(a) 2 September 2022 (b) 28 April 2025 (c) 29 October 2026 (d) 8 October 2026
Answer: (c) – The Navy announced the maiden landing on 30 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Rafale Marine first land on INS Vikrant?
On 29 October 2026, on its first attempt. The Indian Navy announced it on 30 October 2026.
Was the landing part of a bilateral exercise?
No. The Navy described it as ongoing trials to operationalise the aircraft. It followed shore trials at INS Hansa, Goa.
How many Rafale-M jets has India ordered?
Twenty-six: 22 single-seat and 4 twin-seat. The Inter-Governmental Agreement with France was signed on 28 April 2025, and deliveries are to be completed by 2030.
Why does the Rafale-M need trials on Vikrant?
The jet was designed for catapult launches from France’s Charles de Gaulle. INS Vikrant uses the STOBAR method, with a ski-jump for take-off and arrester wires for landing.
Who built INS Vikrant?
Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi, to a design by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau. It was commissioned on 2 September 2022.
Also read on NCA: India-France strategic partnership 2026 | Monthly defence current affairs PDFs | CDS coaching in Chandigarh
Sources: PIB (MoD), 28 Apr 2025, PTI via ThePrint, The Pioneer, The Week, IDRW, Janes. Facts as reported up to 2 November 2026.
Featured image background (representative): Ministry of Defence / Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India.
