India to strengthen its fleet with 36 French-made warplanes
- 9 years ago
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he has ordered 36 French-made Rafale fighter jets.
The move, an effort to modernise his country’s ageing warplane fleet, is another boost for French manufacturer Dassault Aviation and could be worth about 4 billion euros.
Indian military officials have warned that their air force risks a major capability gap opening up with China and Pakistan without new western warplanes or if local defence contractors cannot produce what the military needs in a timely manner.
“I have asked President (Francois Hollande) to supply 36 ready-to-fly Rafale jets to India,” Modi said at a news conference on the first day of a state visit to France.
It follows Dassault’s long-awaited first export deal with Egypt in February.
The move, an effort to modernise his country’s ageing warplane fleet, is another boost for French manufacturer Dassault Aviation and could be worth about 4 billion euros.
Indian military officials have warned that their air force risks a major capability gap opening up with China and Pakistan without new western warplanes or if local defence contractors cannot produce what the military needs in a timely manner.
“I have asked President (Francois Hollande) to supply 36 ready-to-fly Rafale jets to India,” Modi said at a news conference on the first day of a state visit to France.
It follows Dassault’s long-awaited first export deal with Egypt in February.