India traded MiG-29K for French Rafale-M, but they didn't fit the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier hangars

India signed a contract at the end of April to purchase French Rafale-Marine fighters to equip the INS Vikrant series aircraft carriers. However, the new combat aircraft are not suitable for the military ship hangars in terms of size.

In total, the Indian side purchased four two-seater and 22 single-seater Rafale-M 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 the Rafale-M has this figure at 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 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 обозреватели emphasize that Rafale-M is able to unlock the potential only on IAC-2 — an aircraft carrier with a displacement of 65,000 tons, which will replace 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 difficult 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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