NEW DELHI (AP) — An Indian government panel on Thursday gave preliminary approval to the purchase of more Rafale fighter jets and maritime patrol aircraft in a deal worth billions of dollars, the defense ministry said.
The purchases are part of a package of defense products worth 3.6 trillion rupees ($39.74 billion).
Sustaining air power is a strategic priority for India, which faces ongoing security challenges along its borders with nuclear-armed rivals Pakistan and China.
The ministry did not provide details on the number or cost of Rafale or P-8I aircraft to be purchased.
However, an Indian official with direct knowledge of the matter told The Associated Press that the Defense Procurement Council, headed by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved the purchase of 114 Rafale multi-role fighter jets from France and six P-8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft from the United States, which is described in India as “accepting necessity.”
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
India already has two squadrons of Rafale fighter jets and last year signed a deal to buy 26 maritime variants of the stealth fighter for the navy. It also operates Boeing P-8I aircraft for reconnaissance in the Indian Ocean region.
The Indian Air Force currently has 29 fighter squadrons, well below the 42 the government once approved. Each squadron consists of 16-18 fighters.
The panel’s approval is a crucial preliminary step that now needs approval from India’s Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Rafale deal is expected to be announced as early as next week, coinciding with French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India for an international summit on the impact of artificial intelligence.
The procurement of multi-role fighter jets will significantly enhance the deterrence capabilities of the Indian Air Force, the Indian Ministry of Defense said, adding that most of the fighter jets will be manufactured in India.
The P-8I aircraft will enhance India’s maritime surveillance capabilities, particularly in the Indian Ocean amid increasing Chinese naval activity.
