French win £7bn deal to sell 126 Rafale jet fighters to India

IN WHAT is being seen as a boost for French president Nicolas Sarkozy, India has agreed to buy 126 Rafale combat aircraft from France in a massive £7 billion deal.

It is France’s first export contract for the aircraft. India already has the world’s fourth largest air force – with 700 fighters – after Russia, China and the US.

Confirming the deal yesterday, Dassault Aviation said it was honoured to extend co-operation with India, which has a fleet of its older Mirage jets.

Dassault won that contract with the lower bid in a two-way competition against the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, in which BAe has a share.

Growing fears over China’s fast-expanding military and the decades-old mistrust of Pakistan have fuelled India’s impetus to add to its defence forces.

The French have for years been trying to get an export deal. Last month, defence minister Gerard Longuet warned the Rafale programme could be stopped if foreign buyers didn’t materialise.