India gave the green light on Thursday in principle to buy 26 Rafale fighter jets for its navy from Dassault Aviation, Defense Minister Rajnath said.
Singh, on the occasion of the visit to France of the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
The ministry has also given initial approval for India’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) and France’s Naval Group to build three Scorpene-class submarines, two sources familiar with details of the deal told Reuters.
The amount of these contracts is not known at this time, but Rajnath Singh said on Twitter that “the price and other purchase conditions will be negotiated with the French government after taking into account all relevant aspects, including the comparative purchase price of similar aircraft”. by other countries”.
a new strategy
Narendra Modi, who is expected in France at noon, must notably attend the parade on July 14 as the guest of honor. The Indian Prime Minister and Emmanuel Macron are expected to agree a series of defense deals as well as a new joint strategy to ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
India has relied on French fighter jets for four decades. Before the Rafale in 2015, the country had used the Mirage in the 1980s, which is still present in two Air Force squadrons.
In 2005, India bought six Scorpene-class submarines from France for 188 billion rupees (2.05 billion euros), the last of which will be commissioned next year.
Source: BFM TV
