India has approved the purchase of 26 Rafale fighter jets from France for its navy, two officials familiar with the matter said today, quoted by Reuters. The agency notes that the decision is aimed at deterring threats in view of the growing naval presence of Delhi's rival China in the Indian Ocean, writes BTA.
The deal for the fighter jets is expected to be signed in the next few weeks, the officials said, adding that the purchase remains to be approved by the government's security committee, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India plans to buy 22 single-seaters and four double-seaters fighter jets manufactured by French company “Dassault Aviation“ - a deal that will strengthen defense ties between the Asian country and France, which is India's second-largest arms supplier.
French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu plans to visit India before the deal is signed, the officials said.
According to one of them, the deal is worth about 630 billion rupees ($7 billion). A spokesman for the Indian Defense Ministry did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.
The purchase is also part of India's efforts to modernize its military and shift from Soviet-era weapons to Western models, as well as to develop its defense industry, after being the world's largest arms importer for years.
This will also help Delhi deter potential threats, given that the Indian Navy says the Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean has grown over the past decade and Beijing has deployed dual-purpose ships in the region. China claims its goals are peaceful - according to Beijing, Chinese ships in the region are conducting scientific research.
Beijing has had a naval base in Djibouti, in the western Indian Ocean, since 2017.
The Indian Air Force currently operates 36 Rafale fighter jets, but the navy is armed mainly with Russian MiG-29 fighters.