{"id":29229722,"date":"2026-10-23T10:27:07","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T08:27:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/rafale-m-trials-goa-ins-vikrant-indian-navy-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-10-23T10:27:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T08:27:23","slug":"rafale-m-trials-goa-ins-vikrant-indian-navy-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/rafale-m-trials-goa-ins-vikrant-indian-navy-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Rafale M Trials Begin in Goa Ahead of INS Vikrant Operations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>.et_pb_title_container h1.entry-title { padding-top: 40px !important; }<\/style>\n\n\n\n<!-- mfsh:top -->\n\n<style>\n.mfsh-trigger{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;height:44px;padding:0 18px;margin:0 0 26px;border:2px solid #0F1720;background:#fff;color:#0F1720;font-family:inherit;font-size:14px;font-weight:700;line-height:1;letter-spacing:0;text-transform:none;cursor:pointer;box-shadow:none;transition:background 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Now the Indian Navy has started finding out exactly what that means.<\/p><p>Defence sources told the news agency ANI, as reported by The Week on 22 October 2026, that the Navy has begun trials of the <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/rafale\/\">Rafale<\/a> Marine, or Rafale M, in Goa. The aim is to identify the modifications the jet will need to operate from INS Vikrant, India&rsquo;s first home-built aircraft carrier. Twenty-six Rafale M are on order, with deliveries due from late 2028.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#f4f6f9;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:18px 22px;margin:28px 0\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;font-weight:700;color:#0d1117;font-size:17px\">Quick Facts<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0;font-size:15px;color:#333\"><strong>Aircraft:<\/strong> Dassault Rafale Marine (Rafale M), twin-engine carrier fighter<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0;font-size:15px;color:#333\"><strong>Order:<\/strong> 26 jets: 22 single-seat, 4 twin-seat, signed 28 April 2025<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0;font-size:15px;color:#333\"><strong>Value:<\/strong> About &#8377;63,000 crore (roughly $7.5 billion)<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0;font-size:15px;color:#333\"><strong>Trials:<\/strong> Under way in Goa, reported 21-22 October 2026<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0;font-size:15px;color:#333\"><strong>Purpose:<\/strong> Identify modifications needed to fly from INS Vikrant<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0;font-size:15px;color:#333\"><strong>Carriers:<\/strong> INS Vikrant, later also INS Vikramaditya<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0;font-size:15px;color:#333\"><strong>Deliveries:<\/strong> Expected from late 2028 or early 2029, complete by 2030<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">What the Rafale M trials are testing<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>The Rafale M was built for the French Navy&rsquo;s Charles de Gaulle, which launches its jets with catapults and catches them with arrester wires. INS Vikrant has no catapult. Its aircraft take off under their own power up a ski-jump ramp and land on arrester wires, a layout known as STOBAR. Every carrier jet also has to fit the ship&rsquo;s lifts, hangar, deck markings, fuel and weapons handling.<\/p><p>The Rafale M trials in Goa are meant to work through those details before the first Indian jets arrive. Reports differ on exactly where the flying is taking place. Some outlets, including Daijiworld and India TV, describe the trials as being conducted aboard INS Vikrant off Goa, while Indian Masterminds, citing Defence.in, places them at the Shore Based Test Facility in Goa, the land-based ski-jump at <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-bases\/ins-hansa\/\">INS Hansa<\/a>. The Navy has not published details, and which aircraft are being used has not been officially stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 8px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_5_yta96Wfk\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin:0 0 24px;font-style:italic\">WION reports on the Indian Navy&rsquo;s Rafale M carrier trials, October 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">India has done this before, on land<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>The Rafale M is not new to Goa. In January 2022, during the competition for the Navy&rsquo;s carrier fighter, two French Navy Rafale M flew from the Shore Based Test Facility at INS Hansa and demonstrated that the type could take off from a ski-jump and land as a STOBAR carrier requires, Naval News reported. That campaign helped the Rafale M beat the F\/A-18E\/F Super Hornet to the contract.<\/p><p>India signed for 26 aircraft on 28 April 2025, its largest defence deal with France and the first export order for the naval Rafale. The contract also covers weapons, spares, support for the 36 Rafales of the Indian Air Force and a facility in India to build Rafale fuselages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7\"><div><em>&ldquo;The Rafale Marine will provide the Indian Armed Forces with state-of-the-art capabilities&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Dassault Aviation<\/strong> &mdash; statement on the signature of the Indian Rafale Marine contract, April 2025<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/rafale-m-trials-goa-ins-vikrant-indian-navy-2026-img1.jpg\" alt=\"Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at sea with MiG-29K fighters on deck\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">INS Vikrant at sea with MiG-29K fighters of INAS 303 &ldquo;Black Panthers&rdquo; on deck. The Rafale M will join them from 2028-29. (Indian Navy photo, GODL-India)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Why the Indian Navy needs the Rafale M<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-forces\/indian-naval-air-arm\/\">Indian Naval Air Arm<\/a> currently flies the Russian-built MiG-29K from its two carriers, and the type has suffered from poor serviceability. The Rafale M brings the Thales RBE2 AESA radar, the SPECTRA self-protection suite and access to European weapons such as the Meteor air-to-air missile, along with the commonality of a type the Indian Air Force already operates.<\/p><p>India&rsquo;s defence ministry said in 2025 that the deal includes transfer of technology for the integration of indigenous weapons, and a 22 October report by Zona Militar says France has now opened the door to Indian weapons on the Rafale M. The jets will operate from INS Vikrant first and later from INS Vikramaditya, until India&rsquo;s own twin-engine deck-based fighter is ready.<\/p><p>For now, the job in Goa is less glamorous: measuring, fitting and flying until the French jet and the Indian ship agree with each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Sources: ANI via The Week (22 Oct 2026), India TV, Daijiworld, Indian Masterminds (citing Defence.in), Naval News, Dassault Aviation, Ministry of Defence (India), Zona Militar<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!-- mfsh:bottom -->\n\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-trigger mfsh-bottom\" data-mfsh-placement=\"bottom\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share this story<\/button>\n\n<!-- \/mfsh:bottom -->\n\n\n\n<style>.mfq{margin:34px 0 8px}.mfq h2{font:26px\/1.3 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117;padding-top:22px;margin:0 0 6px}.mfq .qa details{border-top:1px solid #5C91FF;margin:0;padding:0}.mfq .qa details:last-of-type{border-bottom:1px solid #e2e7ee}.mfq .qa summary{cursor:pointer;list-style:none;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:16px;padding:22px 26px;font:18px\/1.7 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117}.mfq .qa summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}.mfq .qa summary::after{content:\"+\";font:24px Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#3568e0;flex:0 0 auto}.mfq .qa details[open] summary::after{content:\"\\2013\"}.mfq .qa details:hover summary{color:#3568e0}.mfq .qa .a{font:16px\/1.7 \"Gilroy regular\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#454e5e;padding:0 26px 24px}.mfq .qa .a a{color:#3568e0}@media(max-width:680px){.mfq .qa summary{padding:18px 14px;font-size:17px}.mfq .qa .a{padding:0 14px 20px}}<\/style>\n\n\n<section class=\"mfq\"><h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2><div class=\"qa\"><details open><summary>What are the Rafale M trials in Goa?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The Indian Navy has begun trials of the Rafale Marine in Goa to identify the modifications the jet needs to operate from INS Vikrant, according to defence sources quoted by ANI on 22 October 2026. Reports differ on whether the flying is taking place aboard the carrier or at the Shore Based Test Facility.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>How many Rafale M has India ordered?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">India ordered 26 Rafale Marine jets on 28 April 2025: 22 single-seat fighters and 4 twin-seat trainers. The deal is worth about 63,000 crore rupees, roughly $7.5 billion, and is the first export order for the naval Rafale.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>When will the Indian Navy receive its Rafale M?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The first Rafale M for India is expected in late 2028 or early 2029, with all deliveries completed by 2030, according to Indian reports and Naval News.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Why does the Rafale M need modifications for INS Vikrant?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The Rafale M was designed for the catapult-equipped French carrier Charles de Gaulle. INS Vikrant uses a ski-jump for take-off and arrester wires for landing, known as STOBAR, so procedures, deck handling and some equipment have to be adapted.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Has the Rafale M flown from a ski-jump before?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Yes. In January 2022, two French Navy Rafale M flew from the Shore Based Test Facility at INS Hansa in Goa and demonstrated ski-jump take-offs and STOBAR-style landings during India\u2019s carrier fighter competition.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Which aircraft will the Rafale M replace in the Indian Navy?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The Rafale M will operate alongside and eventually take over from the Russian-built MiG-29K, which currently flies from INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.<\/div><\/details><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What are the Rafale M trials in Goa?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Indian Navy has begun trials of the Rafale Marine in Goa to identify the modifications the jet needs to operate from INS Vikrant, according to defence sources quoted by ANI on 22 October 2026. 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In January 2022, two French Navy Rafale M flew from the Shore Based Test Facility at INS Hansa in Goa and demonstrated ski-jump take-offs and STOBAR-style landings during India\u2019s carrier fighter competition.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Which aircraft will the Rafale M replace in the Indian Navy?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Rafale M will operate alongside and eventually take over from the Russian-built MiG-29K, which currently flies from INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.\"}}]}<\/script><div style=\"background:#f0f4ff;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:16px 20px;margin:32px 0 8px\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:600;color:#333\">Related Posts<\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/india-rafale-mrfa-source-code-dispute-france-2026\/\">India&#8217;s Rafale Deal Hits a Firewall<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/france-114-rafale-mrfa-india-offer\/\">France Puts 114 Rafales on India&#8217;s Table<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/why-carrier-aircraft-fold-their-wings-sto-wing\/\">Why Carrier Jets Fold Their Wings, and What It Costs Them<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/zero-to-165-mph-in-two-seconds-how-carriers-launch-jets\/\">Zero to 165 MPH in Two Seconds: How Carriers Launch Jets<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Share this story A carrier fighter is only as good as the deck it lands on, and India has bought a fighter designed for somebody else&rsquo;s deck. Now the Indian Navy has started finding out exactly what that means. Defence sources told the news agency ANI, as reported by The Week on 22 October 2026, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":29229690,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[664,670],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29229722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-military-aviation","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Rafale M Trials in Goa for INS Vikrant | MiGFlug<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Rafale M trials have begun in Goa to work out what India\u2019s 26 Rafale Marine jets need to fly from INS Vikrant. 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