India and France have finalized a significant deal. The agreement involves the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for the Indian Navy. The deal is worth Rs 63,000 crore.
Source Credit : Reuters
On Monday, India finalized a significant agreement with France to procure 26 Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Navy. The deal, valued at Rs 63,000 Crore, was confirmed by the Indian Ministry of Defence in an official statement.
India has announced plans to purchase 22 single-seater and four twin-seater fighters from France's Dassault Aviation. This deal will strengthen the defense ties between the two countries, as France is India's second-largest arms supplier.
"The delivery of these aircraft would be completed by 2030, with the crew undergoing training in France and India," the ministry said, adding that the deal is expected to generate 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, Reuters reported.
The Indian Air Force currently operates 36 Rafale fighters, while the Navy's aircraft fleet primarily consists of Russian MiG-29 jets. The Indian Air Force has a fleet of 36 Rafale fighters, while the Navy predominantly operates Russian MiG-29 jets.
India is currently in the process of modernizing its military capabilities, with the goal of decreasing reliance on Russian-made equipment and increasing domestic weapons production. This initiative is aimed at providing the necessary resources for the forces stationed along the volatile borders with Pakistan and China.
The Indian Navy has raised concerns about China's increasing presence in the Indian Ocean over the last decade. Beijing has been deploying dual-purpose vessels in the region and has maintained a military base in Djibouti since 2017. This development underscores India's continued dependence on French military equipment, such as Mirage 2000 jets purchased in the 1980s and Scorpene-class submarines ordered in 2005.
