India to acquire 36 French-made Rafale fighter jets.

India will induct French-made Rafale combat jet in September, the chief of the Indian air force B.S. Dhanoa said on March 4th.

A Rafale fighter jet (Picture source: Air Recognition)

India has ordered 36 planes from Dassault Aviation as part of a modernization program of the air force which is phasing out its Soviet-era planes. In January, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman had informed Parliament that under the Rafale deal finalised by the NDA government, the delivery of first Rafale aircraft will take place in 2019, while the last of the 36 jets will be delivered in 2022.