India concluded a contract at the end of April to purchase French Rafale-Marine fighters to equip the INS Vikrant series of aircraft carriers. However, the new combat aircraft are not suitable in size for the military ships' hangars.
In total, the Indian side purchased four two-seater and 22 single-seater Rafale-Ms with maintenance services and weapons. The aircraft were intended to replace the MiG-29K fleet, which allegedly suffers from low operational suitability – up to 47% according to reports as of 2016.
However, the deal with France has raised doubts about the physical compatibility of the Rafale-M with Indian aircraft carriers, which were originally designed for the smaller MiG-29Ks.
The wingspan of the MiG-29K is 11.99 m, but when folded it decreases to 7.8 m, while for the Rafale-M this figure is 11 m, and the wing does not fold. The width of the elevators that transport aircraft between the flight deck and the hangar on the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier is 9.9 m, and on the Vikrant it is 10 m.
Thus, none of these ships will be able to deploy Rafale-Ms on board. In order to place a Rafale-M on a 10 m wide elevator, the aircraft will need to be tilted diagonally by approximately 23.5°, with one wing console raised 4.3 m above the floor and the other lowered.
However, the hangar ceiling has a height of 5–6 m, and the Rafale-M has a height of 5.34 m, so the aircraft may not fit there. Such manipulations with fighters during transportation will also increase the risk of damage and take a lot of time.
Indian observers emphasize that the Rafale-M is capable of unlocking its potential only on the IAC-2, an aircraft carrier with a displacement of 65,000 tons, which will replace the Vikramaditya by 2035–2036. It will have more spacious elevators capable of accommodating French aircraft.
MiG-29K is a multi-functional Russian fourth-generation carrier-based fighter designed to solve the tasks of air defense of ship formations, destruction of surface or ground objects, patrolling, interception and destruction of air targets day and night, in simple and complex weather conditions.
Main characteristics of the MiG-29K fighter:
- maximum combat load, kg — 4 500;
- maximum take-off weight, kg — 22 400;
- maximum flight speed near the ground, km/h — 1 400;
- maximum flight speed at altitude, km/h — 2 200;
- practical flight range with three external fuel tanks, km — 3 000;
- practical flight range without external fuel tanks, km — 1 850;
- number of weapon suspension points — 8;
- crew, people — 1.
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