India Traded MiG-29K for French Rafale-M, But They Didn't Fit in INS Vikrant Aircraft Carrier Hangars

India signed a contract in late April to purchase French Rafale-Marine fighters to equip the INS Vikrant series of aircraft carriers. However, the new combat aircraft were not suitable for the military ships' hangars due to their size.

In total, the Indian side purchased four two-seater and 22 single-seater Rafale-M aircraft with maintenance services and weapons. The aircraft were supposed 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 raised doubts about the physical compatibility of the Rafale-M with Indian aircraft carriers, which were originally designed for the smaller MiG-29K.

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 of the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier is 9.9 m, and that of the Vikrant is 10 m.

Thus, none of these ships will be able to deploy Rafale-M on board. In order to place the 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 above the floor by 4.3 m 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-role 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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