Rafale M carries out maiden landing, take-off on INS Vikrant
A Rafale Marine fighter jet successfully completed its first landing and take-off trials on the Indian Navy's indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. This milestone is a critical step toward integrating the new jets into India's naval aviation fleet.
Why it matters
The successful trial marks a significant advancement in India's naval defense capabilities and the modernization of its carrier-based strike force.
A Rafale Marine fighter jet landed on and took off from the Indian Navy’s indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant for the first time on Thursday, officials aware of the matter said. The ongoing trials, ahead of the induction of these fighters, mark the first steps towards operationalising the aircraft in the navy, they said on Friday.French pilots had earlier conducted similar trials at a shore-based test facility in Goa under a contract signed last year.India ordered 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets from France in April 2025 for the navy, which will operate them from its two aircraft carriers.
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