India has finalized a $7.4 billion deal for 26 Rafale fighter jets, as per an official statement

On Monday, India finalized an agreement with France to acquire 26 Rafale fighter jets for its navy, amounting to 630 billion rupees ($7.41 billion), as reported by an official from the Indian defense ministry to Reuters.

This acquisition received approval earlier this month from India’s security cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Currently, the Indian Air Force operates 36 Rafale fighters, while the navy’s fleet primarily consists of Russian MiG-29 aircraft.

This deal is part of India’s efforts to modernize its military, decrease reliance on Russian equipment, and enhance domestic arms production to support forces stationed along its contentious borders with Pakistan and China.

The Indian navy has expressed concerns over China’s increasing activities in the Indian Ocean over the last decade, with Beijing deploying dual-purpose vessels in the area and establishing a military base in Djibouti since 2017.

Additionally, this agreement signifies a continuation of India’s historical dependence on French military equipment, which includes Mirage 2000 jets purchased in the 1980s and Scorpene-class submarines ordered in 2005.