On Friday in New Delhi, the Indian and French defence ministers signed a contract to purchase 36 Rafale jets from Paris-based Dassault Aviation SA. RelatedThe Rafale deal comes as Modi attempts a nearly $200 billion modernization drive — buying everything from submarines to artillery. The Indian Air Force’s rapidly-aging Soviet-era fleet threatens to hamper New Delhi’s ability to counter potential threats from Beijing and Islamabad. The new multi-role fighter jets, which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, come with advanced radar and weapons systems that will give India’s air force an edge over China’s air force and Pakistan’s fleet of F-16s, said Manmohan Bahadur, a retired Air Vice Marshal in the Indian Air Force and distinguished fellow at New Delhi’s Centre for Air Power Studies. The deal, however, is still only one step in a much longer modernization process required within the Indian Air Force, Joshi said.

Source: National Post September 23, 2016 14:48 UTC