NEW DELHI: India’s defence ministry said Monday that it has inked a multibillion-dollar agreement to buy 26 Rafale fighter aeroplanes from France, including single and twin-seat models. When the planes are delivered, they will join 36 French-built Rafale fighters that New Delhi has previously purchased as part of its accelerated military modernisation ambitions.
The governments of France and India have signed an intergovernmental agreement for the purchase of 26 Rafale aircraft, the defence ministry announced in a statement. The Russian Mig-29 K planes are anticipated to be replaced by the French aerospace company Dassault Aviation’s aircraft, which would be flown from aircraft carriers built in India.
According to India’s Defence Ministry, it consists of 22 single-seater and four twin-seater aircraft, as well as “training, simulators, associated equipment, weapons, and performance-based logistics.” It also features additional equipment for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) current Rafale fleet. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to France for the Bastille Day festivities in 2023, the Indian government declared its plan to purchase 26 Rafales.
India has historically relied on Russia as a major supplier of military hardware, but in recent years, it has expanded its acquisitions to include France, the United States, and Israel. State-of-the-art capabilities” and a active role in guaranteeing national sovereignty and consolidating India’s role as a major international player” are what Dassault said the planes would give India.
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