India will sign a ₹63,887 crore (Euro 6.6 billion) deal with France on Monday to buy 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets, which will mainly operate from the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, The Times of India reported.
This comes as French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu could not travel to India as planned, due to rising tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack by Pakistani terrorists, which claimed 26 innocent lives. India has alleged cross-border links to the terror attack.
Senior defence officials from both countries will sign the deal in New Delhi, while the two defence ministers will finalise it remotely via video conferencing.
The deal includes 22 single-seat Rafale-M jets, four twin-seat trainers, weapons, simulators, crew training, maintenance support, and five years of performance-based logistics. It also covers spares and equipment for the 36 Rafales already used by the Indian Air Force.