The DEFENCE ministry on Thursday approved the acquisition of 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets and three Scorpene diesel-electric submarines from France, paving the way for the formal announcement of the two proposed mega deals at the Modi-Macron summit.
The Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) accorded the acceptance of necessity (AoN) to the twin procurements for theNavy, which together will cost upwards of Rs 80,000 crore (9 billion)
With the indigenous twin-engine deck-based fighter (TEDBF) likely to take at least a decade to become operational, the Navy had pushed for the 26 Rafale-M jets as an interim measure.