A Rafale fighter jet performs during the Aero India air show at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, India. PHOTO:REUTERS/FILEIndia's defence ministry has given initial approval to purchase 26 Rafale fighter jets for its navy and three Scorpene class submarines, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival in France, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said. The total value of the purchases is expected to be around 800 billion rupees ($9.75 billion), according to one of the sources. India has relied on French fighter jets for four decades now. In 2005, India bought six Scorpene-class diesel submarines from France for 188 billion rupees ($2.29 billion), the last of which will be commissioned next year.
