New Delhi, April 20: Union Cabinet of India on Saturday approved a significant deal of as many as 26 fighter Rafale Jets worth Rs 63K Crore from France.
The Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the deal which will strengthen the Indian Navy, senior officials said.
The deal includes 22 single-seater aircraft and four twin-seater variants, designed specifically for the maritime requirement of the Indian Navy to tackle the signature of China in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Rafale procurement will include weapons, simulator, spares, associated ancillary equipment, crew training and logistics support for the Indian Navy from the French government. The Rafale jets contract also comprises two squadrons in the IAF.
The 26 Rafale-M jets for the Navy, manufactured by Dassault Aviation, are expected to be delivered within at least 37 months after the contract is finalized.
India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, had earlier approved the Navy’s proposal to buy the 26 Rafale M fighters earlier in accordance with the official process.
