India Wants to Purchase 114 More French "Rafale" Fighter Jets
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, June 3 - The Asian News International recently reported, citing sources from India's defense sector, that India has submitted a letter of intent to France for the purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets.
On June 1, Asian News International reported that India submitted the procurement letter to French officials last week, and it is expected that the French side will respond within two to three months. The report stated that both parties plan to complete the transaction negotiations next year.
On June 19, 2017, at Bourget Airport near Paris, France, Dassault's Rafale fighter participated in a flight demonstration. Photo by Xinhua reporter Chen Yichen
According to reports, the proposed transaction amount is approximately $34 billion, of which 94 aircraft will be manufactured by Dassault Aviation in collaboration with a local manufacturer in India.
In January of this year, India's Defense Procurement Board preliminarily approved the purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets, including 88 single-seat fighters and 26 twin-seat fighters.
According to Indian media reports in February this year, the size of the Indian Air Force's fighter squadron has shrunk to 29, far below the authorized 42. Its main model, the MiG-21, was retired last September, and earlier models of the MiG-29, the Anglo-French jointly developed Jaguar attack aircraft, and the French Mirage 2000 fighter will also be gradually retired in the coming years.
The report also stated that with India's previous procurement intentions, the total number of Rafale fighter jets it intends to purchase will increase to 176. Upon completion of the procurement, India will become the country with the most Rafale fighter jets outside of France. (Guo Qian)
India has submitted a letter of intent to purchase 114 Rafale fighter jets from France, with an estimated cost of $34 billion. The deal includes local manufacturing of 94 jets in collaboration with an Indian company. This procurement aims to address the reduced size of the Indian Air Force's squadrons, which currently stands at 29, significantly below the authorized 42.
- India intends to purchase 114 Rafale fighter jets from France.
- The total estimated cost of the deal is approximately $34 billion.
- The deal includes 94 aircraft to be manufactured in India in collaboration with a local manufacturer.
- India's Air Force has a reduced squadron size of 29, below the authorized 42.
- The total number of Rafale jets India plans to procure will rise to 176 after this deal.