India begins negotiations to buy 26 Rafale M fighters
French Navy Rafale M prepares to take off from Chales de Gaulle aircraft carrier. |
France has received a formal request from India to start negotiations to purchase twenty-six Dassault Rafale M combat aircraft (twenty-two in the single-seat variant and four in the two-seater variant).
This is what emerged during the recent meeting in Paris between Indian Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron. New Delhi had already announced in July that it had selected the Rafale M over the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet at the end of test campaigns for both. The purchase will take place through an inter-governmental agreement and the value of the order will be approximately 5.5 billion euros. Defense Minister Rajnath Sing confirmed that they will work towards signing an agreement soon.
The new Rafale M fighters will replace the Indian Navy's old MiG-29Ks and will operate from the INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya aircraft carriers.
This new order confirms India's preference towards the Made in France fighter as the nation has already acquired thirty-six Rafale fighters for the Indian Air Force. Furthermore, the Indian Air Force is evaluating the purchase of a further 24 Rafales to equip two additional squadrons.
This is what emerged during the recent meeting in Paris between Indian Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron. New Delhi had already announced in July that it had selected the Rafale M over the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet at the end of test campaigns for both. The purchase will take place through an inter-governmental agreement and the value of the order will be approximately 5.5 billion euros. Defense Minister Rajnath Sing confirmed that they will work towards signing an agreement soon.
The new Rafale M fighters will replace the Indian Navy's old MiG-29Ks and will operate from the INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya aircraft carriers.
This new order confirms India's preference towards the Made in France fighter as the nation has already acquired thirty-six Rafale fighters for the Indian Air Force. Furthermore, the Indian Air Force is evaluating the purchase of a further 24 Rafales to equip two additional squadrons.
Written by Matteo Sanzani
No comments
All comments related to the contents of our articles are welcome. It is not allowed to post promotional messages, links to external sites, or references to activities not related to this blog.