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Asia World

India Buys Expensive French Fighter Jets

NEW DELHI – India will buy three dozen “Rafale fighter jets” from France, the defence minister said on Sunday, dashing lingering French hopes of a larger deal that has been years in the making.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the previous government’s plans to buy 126 of the fighter jets from French firm Dassault were economically unviable.

During a visit to France in April, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that New Delhi was ordering 36 of the “ready to fly” planes.

The deal — estimated to be worth $5.5 billion — followed tortuous years-long negotiations on buying the jets.

But the purchase agreement fell a long way short of previous proposals for India to buy 126. Frustrating negotiations for that deal stalled over costs and assembly guarantees.

Parrikar has since played down expectations of a larger deal, but his comments on Sunday were some of his strongest yet, saying buying more of the jets would blow the defence ministry’s procurement budget.

“I also feel like having a BMW and Mercedes. But I don’t because I can’t afford it. First I can’t afford it and second I don’t need it,” Parrikar told international news agency.

Parrikar said a committee set up to nail down details of purchasing the 36 would complete its work in the next two to three months.

India has in recent years launched a vast defence modernization programme worth some $100 billion, partly to keep up with rival neighbors Pakistan and China.

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