PARIS (HRNW) – The first five of a batch of French Rafale fighter jets purchased by New Delhi in a controversial multibillion-dollar deal headed to India on Monday for rapid deployment amid rising tensions with China.
The deal, estimated to be worth $9.4 billion, has been overshadowed by corruption allegations levelled by the opposition Congress party although Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rejected the claims.
The jets built by Dassault Aviation — and piloted by officers from the Indian Air Force (IAF) — took off from Merignac in southwest France, the company said in a statement.
By Wednesday, they should be at Ambala air base in northern India, some 200 kilometres (120 miles) from the Pakistani and Chinese borders.
Be the first to comment on "First French fighter jets head to India after purchase"