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Dassault Rafale multirole fighter aircraft. (analog file: AP)
The selection follows the successful demonstration of the Navy Rafale that it fully meets the operational requirements of the Indian Navy during a trial campaign.
The Indian government announced the selection of the naval variant of the Rafale aircraft to supply the Indian Navy with its latest new-generation fighter, Dassault Aviation, the French astronaut and aircraft maker, on Saturday.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Defense approved the purchase of 26 Rafale (Navy) aircraft from France.
There was no mention of the Rafale purchase in a document released after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday.
“The Indian government announced the selection of the Rafale Navy to provide the Indian Navy with the latest generation of fighters,” Dassault Aviation said in a statement.
It said the decision came after “a successful test campaign conducted in India, during which the Navy Rafale demonstrated that it fully meets the operational requirements of the Indian Navy and is well suited to the specifics of its aircraft carrier.”
“The Indian Navy Rafale-26 will eventually join the Rafale-36 already in service, which completely satisfies the Indian Air Force, making India the first country to make the same military choice as France by operating both versions of the aircraft to help merge their air and sea superiority and ensure their superiority Her Excellency.”
India is buying Rafale aircraft for deployment on the indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
The French defense major said the selection of the Rafale underscores the aircraft’s distinction and “exceptional quality for the link between Dassault Aviation and Indian forces and the importance of the strategic relationship between India and France”.
“As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of our partnership with the Indian Forces, I would like to thank the Indian authorities for this new sign of confidence and pledge, on behalf of Dassault Aviation, that we will fully meet the expectations of the Indian Navy with the Rafale,” said Eric Trapper, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.
(This story was not edited by the News18 staff and was published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
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