India inks $7.4bn agreement to buy 26 Rafale fighter jets

NEW DELHI: India signed a deal with France on Monday to buy 26 Rafale fighter jets worth $7.4 billion for its navy, the Indian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

India will buy 22 single-seater and four twin-seater fighters made by France’s Dassault Aviation (AM.PA), the ministry said, in a deal that will boost the Asian country’s defense ties with its second-largest arms supplier.

“Delivery of these aircraft will be completed by 2030, with crews being trained in France and India,” the ministry said, adding that the deal is expected to create thousands of jobs and revenue for a large number of businesses.

The purchase was approved earlier this month by India’s security cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to Reuters.

The Indian Air Force currently operates 36 Rafale fighter jets, while the Navy’s aircraft fleet consists mainly of Russian MiG-29 jets.

India wants to increase domestic arms production to modernize its military, reduce its reliance on Russian-made equipment and supply forces stationed on two disputed borders with Pakistan and China.

The Indian Navy has flagged China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean over the past decade, with Beijing operating dual-purpose ships in the region and maintaining a military base in Djibouti since 2017.

This marks another step in India’s long-standing reliance on French military hardware, including Mirage 2000 jets purchased in the 1980s and Scorpene-class submarines ordered in 2005.