India has formally communicated to France its decision to procure 26 naval variants of the Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Navy, kick-starting the procurement process under an intergovernmental framework, people familiar with the matter said on Friday.
In July, the Defence Ministry approved the purchase of the Rafale Marine jets from France, primarily for deployment on board the indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
The issue of procurement of the Rafale Marine jets figured during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent visit to Paris.
India has sent a letter of request to the French government, formally communicating its decision to procure the jets from Dassault Aviation under the government-to-government framework.
The negotiations on pricing and other details are expected to take place after the defence ministry receives a response from the French side, the people familiar with the matter said.
The Indian Air Force bought 36 aircraft in fly-away condition. There is a thinking in the IAF that it should go for at least two more squadrons of the Rafale jets.