The Indian Defence Procurement Board (DPP) has given the green light to the purchase from France of three Scorpene-class submarines and 26 Rafale M fighter jets to operate from aircraft carriers. The country initially ordered a batch of six Scorpene submarines, within its P-75 program, so with the additional three it will add nine units of this Naval Group model that the client calls Kalvari class and that it produces locally through the local firm Mazagon Docks. Do not confuse this program with the so-called P-75I for the purchase of another six units, and in which, among others, the Spanish Navantia competes, which has just allied with the local company Larsen & Toubro to try to win options in this other contest, valued at 4,800 million euros.
As for the Rafale fighter jets, New Delhi has already ordered 36 units of this aircraft from Dassault Aviation, but this is the first time that India will get devices of the version prepared to operate from aircraft carriers, which the manufacturer developed for the French National Navy.