8 hours agoIndia signs agreements with France to buy 26 Rafale fighter planes
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)India has agreed to buy 26 Rafal warplanes for its French navy, the Indian Defence Ministry announced on Monday, strengthening the country's maritime aviation capabilities as it continues to modernise its armed forces. According to an official statement from New Delhi, the contract is estimated at around 6.5 billion euros. None [...]
According to an official statement from New Delhi, the contract is estimated at around 6.5 billion euros. No French source had commented publicly until Monday at noon.
The deal expands India's existing Raphare fleet after a 2016 agreement on 36 aircraft produced in France.
This previous agreement, worth about 8 billion euros, remains the most expensive contract provided by the French military aviation industry to date.
Produced by Dassalult Aviation, Rafale is a highly operational fighter capable of air protection, detection and strike missions.
It is also part of France's nuclear preventive capacity.
The French Navy has operated on transport-based Rafales since 2004, with the French Air Force bringing the planes into service two years later.
French Army currently operates 165 Rafales, including 41 modes of transporters.
Since 2015, Rafale has become a major export success for France, with 285 planes sold in countries including Qatar, Egypt, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Croatia. /Periscope/
