10 publishers · first seen Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00 UTC · updated Sat, 31 Oct 2026 02:03 UTC
The Indian Navy confirmed that a Rafale-Marine fighter successfully landed on the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on its maiden attempt on 29 Oct 2026, marking a key milestone in carrier trials. The landing is part of ongoing tests that began earlier this year at the Shore Based Test Facility in Goa and are intended to lead to operational deployment of the jets. India ordered 26 Rafale-Marine aircraft from France in April 2025 under a Rs 63,000 crore inter‑governmental agreement, with deliveries slated to start in late 2028. The trials aim to integrate the carrier‑capable jets onto both INS Vikrant and the older carrier INS Vikramaditya, replacing the existing MiG‑29K fleet.
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