India nears $7.6 billion Rafale-M deal for INS Vikrant's Air Wing

India is finalising a $7.6 billion agreement with France for 26 Rafale-M fighter jets. These naval aircraft are crucial for equipping the INS Vikrant carrier, addressing existing fighter shortages and reliability concerns with the current MiG-29K fleet. The deal is expected soon, significantly boosting India's naval aviation capabilities by 2031.