Key points
- India plans to buy 22 single-seater, 4 twin-seater fighter jets
- The purchase has been approved by India’s cabinet committee
- Opposition leader Gandhi has criticised Modi about the previous Rafale deal
ISLAMABAD: India has approved the purchase of 26 Rafale fighter jets from France for its navy, Indian and Western media reported.
A deal is likely to be signed over the next few weeks, Reuters reported after the purchase was approved by India’s cabinet committee on security affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Times of India reported that the French Defence Minister is expected to attend the signing of the agreement and contract.
Reuters reported that India plans to buy 22 single-seater and four twin-seater fighters, made by France’s Dassault Aviation. The deal was valued at around 630 billion rupees ($7 billion).
36-Rafale contract
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had undertaken a campaign in the run-up to the 2019 general elections against the earlier 36-Rafale contract, Indian media reported. Rahul Gandhi had said that Modi was lying about the Rafale deal, adding Rafale deal was done to benefit Anil Ambani. He said that the price of Rafale aircraft increased three-fold.
Reuters reported that the new deal would help deter potential threats at a time when India claims China’s naval presence in the Indian Ocean has increased over the last decade, and it has deployed dual-purpose Chinese vessels in the region.
China says it has deployed vessels in the region for scientific research and peaceful purposes.
