According to a report on the website of Hindustan Times on December 8, a person familiar with the matter said on the 8th that the French Rafale-M fighter had won the direct competition with the US F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter, becoming a new carrier based fighter model that the Indian navy would equip for its first domestic aircraft carrier, Vikrante. Gust is made by Dassault of France, and Super Bumblebee is made by Boeing of the United States. It is reported that Dassault and Boeing demonstrated their aircraft strength to the Indian Navy at the test site in Goa, India, in January and June this year respectively. An official who requested anonymity said that the Indian Navy had submitted the test reports of the two fighters to the Ministry of Defense, and now it was up to the Indian government to finalize the agreement. Another official, who also declined to be named, said: "Gust - M was found to be more in line with the requirements of the Navy." At present, the Indian Air Force has two squadrons of Rafale fighters. If the Navy orders carrier based aircraft of the same type, there will be some similarities in parts and maintenance. The 26 fighter planes planned to be purchased by the Indian Navy are only a temporary measure before the development of domestic twin engine carrier based fighter planes. According to General Harry Kumar of the Indian Navy last week, the Indian Navy is preparing to draft a cabinet circular to explain the design and development of the twin engine carrier based fighter aircraft planned to be equipped on its aircraft carrier. According to the report, the prototype of the first dual engine carrier based fighter developed by India is likely to be ready around 2026 and may be put into production in 2032. The Indian Navy is cooperating with the National Defense Research and Development Organization and the Aviation Development Agency on the twin engine carrier fighter project. As the emergence of domestic twin engine carrier based fighter will not be until 10 years later, the Indian navy is considering importing carrier based fighter as a transition. Anil Chopra, director of the Indian Air Force Strength Research Center, said it was a wise move for the Navy to fill the gap with Rafale M fighters. He said: "The carrier based model of Gust will have more than 85% in common with the Indian Air Force's Gust, which means that it will have great advantages in parts support management and aircraft maintenance." Like the Indian "Super Sun King" aircraft carrier, the fighter planes on the "Vikrand" will also adopt the ski jump takeoff mode and use the arresting rope when landing. The aircraft carrier "Super Sun King" is equipped with MiG-29K fighter jets produced by Russia. The French side also stressed that "Rafale" - M has similarities with 36 "Rafale" fighters of the Indian Air Force, so it will have advantages in training, maintenance and logistical support. Kumar said on the 3rd: "We will determine which model is most suitable for our interests." The aircraft carrier "Wickrand" will have a carrier based aircraft wing consisting of 30 military aircraft, including new fighters, Ka-31 helicopters, MH-60R multi-purpose helicopters and advanced light helicopters. (Outlook New Times)