India Nears Deal For 36 Dassault Rafale Fighters
PARIS and NEW DELHI—Three years after India opted to purchase the Dassault Aviation Rafale for its Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program in a deal that was to have all but 18 of 126 aircraft produced in India, the nation is now on the verge of finalizing the purchase of an additional 36 French-built Rafales.
In a statement issued April 10 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Paris, the Indian premier said New Delhi would purchase 36 Rafale jets in fly-away condition “as quickly as possible,” though both the Indian and French governments said further negotiations are still underway.