India has finalized a $7.41 billion agreement with France to purchase 26 Rafale fighter jets for its navy, a defence ministry official confirmed to Reuters on Monday.
The acquisition, approved earlier this month by India's security cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to strengthen the country’s military capabilities.
While the Indian Air Force already operates 36 Rafale jets, the navy’s current fleet primarily consists of Russian MiG-29 aircraft.
The deal is part of India's broader efforts to modernize its armed forces, cut reliance on Russian defense equipment, and expand domestic weapons production, especially amid ongoing tensions with China and Pakistan.
The Indian navy has increasingly voiced concerns over China's growing influence in the Indian Ocean, where Beijing operates dual-purpose vessels and has maintained a military base in Djibouti since 2017.
This purchase also continues India’s long-standing military ties with France, following previous acquisitions such as Mirage 2000 jets in the 1980s and Scorpene-class submarines ordered in 2005.
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