Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

New Delhi (India), July 10 (ANI): In a major development, India is planning to buy 26 Rafale fighter aircraft and three <keyword id="4045841" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Scorpene-class" source="Orion">Scorpene class</keyword> conventional submarines from France. The proposals have been placed before the Defence Ministry by the defence forces and are likely to be announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France this week, government sources told ANI. As per the proposals, the Indian Navy will get 22 single-seated Rafale Marine aircraft along with four trainer aircraft. The Navy had been pressing for acquiring these fighter aircraft and submarines urgently as they have been facing shortages in view of the security challenges around the country. The aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and Vikrant have been operating the MiG-29s and need the <keyword id="925199" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rafales" source="Orion">Rafales</keyword> for operations on both carriers. Meanwhile, the three Scorpene class submarines would be acquired under the repeat clause by the Navy as part of Project 75 where they would be built in the Mazagon Dockyards Limited in Mumbai. The deals are estimated to be worth over Rs 90,000 crore but the final cost would be clear only after the contract negotiations are completed which will be held after the deal is announced. India is likely to seek price concessions in the deal and would be insisting on having more 'Make-in-India' content in the plan, sources said. Industry sources said for the Rafale M deal, India and France are expected to form a joint team to negotiate the deal like it was done for the previous Rafale deal for 36 fighter aircraft. The proposals have been discussed in the defence ministry at high-level meetings already and are likely to be placed before the defence acquisition council in the next few days and expected to be accorded Acceptance of Necessity by the government before the announcement in France. (ANI)

India to buy 26 Rafales, 3 Scorpene submarines from France, deals likely to be announced during PM Modi's visit

<ul class="summary-list"><li>France's Dassault Aviation may not be able to meet demand for its Rafale fighter jet.</li><li>The Rafale has become popular with India and several Middle Eastern nations. </li></ul>France's Rafale fighter has become so popular that the manufacturer may not be able to meet demand, according to a British think tank. And that could have global implications for nations looking to build up their air forces amid conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, but who want to avoid the political strings attached to the purchase of Russian or US combat aircraft.Rafale manufacturer Dassault Aviation "regularly makes a selling point of its ability to begin delivering Rafale combat aircraft to prospective customers just three years from contract signature," according to an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/military-balance/2024/01/dassaults-whirlwind-of-rafale-orders-may-be-too-much-of-a-good-thing/">analysis</a> by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "However, the company's recent flurry of Rafale sales could make that 36-month commitment more challenging and may even jeopardize some future deals."The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/defense/rafale/introduction/">Rafale</a> ("Squall") is flown, or has been ordered by, eight nations: Egypt, Greece, India, Qatar, Croatia, the UAE, and Indonesia, as well as the French Air Force and Navy. The jet first flew in 1986, and is considered a generation 4.5 fighter, with some advanced features such as limited stealth, the ability to supercruise (fly supersonic without using fuel-guzzling afterburners), and the capability to launch long-range missiles such as the Meteor and Mica.France has bought 234 Rafales, and in addition, another 261 have been ordered by various nations, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/01/12/france-buys-42-rafale-jets-for-more-than-55-billion/">Defense News</a>. The question is whether Dassault can meet the demand. IISS calculates Dassault's production backlog at 228 aircraft. The crunch will be particularly acute between 2026 to 2033, when Dassault will need to deliver 174 Rafales to France, 42 to Indonesia, 80 to the UAE and 10 for Egypt."The French aircraft maker aimed to produce 15 Rafales last year but only completed 13," IISS said. "The company has not yet given 2024 production guidance, though output will likely increase this year and next, given the strong demand. Even so, it is unlikely that annual aircraft numbers will quickly reach mid-20s.""If Dassault production averages 20 Rafales per year across both 2024 and 2025, it leaves 188 aircraft to be delivered between 2026 and 2033. This would necessitate a delivery rate of almost 24 aircraft per year."Difficulties manufacturing modern fighters are hardly unique to Dassault. In 1944, at Ford's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-collections/expert-sets/101765/">Willow Run, Michigan factory</a>, a four-engine B-24 Liberator heavy bomber rolled off the production line every 63 minutes. In 2024, Lockheed Martin is struggling to deliver around a hundred F-35s this year, with each stealth fighter requiring around 40,000 labor hours to complete. Not only are today's aircraft more complicated to build, but they also comprise huge numbers of components often spread across global supply chains.But the F-35 does have the advantage of being a global fighter manufactured by several nations, while the Rafale is a national fighter limited by French resources, argued aviation analyst <a target="_blank" href="https://richardaboulafia.com/september-2023-letter">Richard Aboulafia</a> in September.<div type="image" title="Navy aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle Dassault Rafale M" height="932" width="1400" msid="108218362" hostid="261" sizebytes="35722"></div>While Dassault can take some steps such as switching civilian aircraft production to Rafales, bottlenecks are likely to remain. "While Dassault relies heavily on a domestic supply chain for Rafale that insulates it somewhat from global supply-chain snarls, the company and its suppliers are not immune to them," IISS noted. "Engineering-talent shortages could also derail a sharp increase in Rafale manufacturing. Realistically, the Rafale industrial machine would be challenged to more than double its annual output."Nor are sporadic deliveries of a couple of Rafales here and there an option. "Most new customers placing a sizeable contract would want a delivery rate of at least six aircraft per year in order to train coherent groups of air and ground crew and build up full squadrons at a sensible rate — and achieving those numbers may be a hurdle too high," IISS warned.Until recently, sales of the Rafale have been lackluster. But many nations are beefing up their air forces, even as Lockheed Martin has its hands full making enough F-35s, Russia is busy trying to replace aircraft losses from the Ukraine war despite Western sanctions, and many nations are hesitant to buy <a target="_blank" href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/06/30/china-fighter-jets-aircraft-exports/">Chinese jets</a>.All of which is a plus for the Rafale. In a world where fighter sales have been dominated by US and Russian designs since World War II, French jets have offered customers an alternative. In the 1960s and 1970s, Dassault's agile delta-winged <a target="_blank" href="https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.php?aircraft_id=228">Mirages</a> proved highly effective when flown by air forces such as Israel's.Today, the Rafale is an option for nations that don't want the political and economic baggage that comes with buying American and Russian aircraft such as the F-35, F-16, and Su-35. Or, don't want to depend on a single nation to provide jets.This helps explain why the Rafale has become <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2023-11-07/dassault-rafale-gulf-regions-best-selling-fighter-jet">popular</a> with India and several Middle Eastern nations. But the downside for Rafale customers is that they are dependent on a single nation whose defense-industrial base is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240119-macron-urges-french-defence-firms-to-boost-production-to-support-ukraine">already struggling</a> to supply Ukraine and replenish France's own military.Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.twitter.com/@mipeck1">Twitter</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mipeck/">LinkedIn</a>.

France's Rafale fighter jet is so popular its manufacturer can't keep up 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>If you're American, you may not have heard of, or used, Telegram.</li><li>In some parts of the world, though, the just-about-anything-goes messaging app is a big deal.</li></ul>French police arrested <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pavel-durov-telegram-billionaire-russia-instagram-wealth-founder-dubai-lifestyle-2022-3">Telegram CEO Pavel Durov</a> over the weekend. The move generated alarm among the services' 900 million users around the world, as well as other observers wondering what it meant for other tech and social media companies that do business around the globe.The news may also be confusing to lots of people who have never heard of Durov, or Telegram itself. Like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta">Meta's</a> Whatsapp, Americans are much less likely to use Telegram than people in the rest of the world. And while the service's Wild West ethos makes it attractive to some people, it remains under the radar to others.Adding to the confusion: We still don't know much about why Durov has been arrested or what will happen next. So consider this an incomplete explainer-in-progress.<h2 id="ecf9150b-f74c-4da8-951b-bbbdc26c0ecf">What is Telegram?</h2>It's a social media service, founded in 2013, that works broadly similar to Twitter or Facebook. That is: It allows users to broadcast text, photo, and video messages to different sized-audiences — you can talk to a single user or a lot of users at the same time. The major difference with platforms like Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter is that there's next to no moderation on the platform. Which means you can post just about anything you want there.The platform's anything-goes aspect means you can do… just about anything you want on it. Both Russian and Ukrainian citizens have been using it to learn about the war that began in early 2022, even though much of what appears there about the conflict is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/ukrainian-lawmakers-are-debating-banning-telegram-heres-what-to-know/#:~:text=The%20Ukrainian%20government%20fears%20the,to%20find%20a%20middle%20ground.">dubious</a>. Usage of the app has skyrocketed in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-08-01/ty-article-magazine/.premium/fake-news-in-real-time-how-israeli-telegram-channels-took-over-the-news/00000191-090f-d4cf-afb5-4ddfc89c0000">Israel</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wired.com/story/telegram-hamas-israel-conflict/">Gaza</a> since the October 7 attacks last year.Rioters in the UK used Telegram to communicate with each other this month, though <a target="_blank" href="https://neilwilby.com/2024/03/20/tech-giants-block-access-to-tommy-robinsons-telegram-channel/">Tommy Robinson</a>, a far-right figure linked to the violence, claims that Apple and Android phones cut off access to his Telegram channel earlier this year. The app has long been accused of serving as a tool for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.vox.com/world/2017/6/30/15886506/terrorism-isis-telegram-social-media-russia-pavel-durov-twitter">terrorists</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wired.com/story/hikvision-cameras-telegram-children/?utm_campaign=falcon_y0pL&amp;utm_social-type=owned&amp;mbid=social_twitter&amp;utm_brand=wired&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter">child pornographers</a>, in part because of the encryption it offers for some of its messaging.But you can also use it for banal, basic stuff — like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.semafor.com/newsletter/08/25/2024/new-model-army">organizing tennis matches</a>, as Semafor editor Ben Smith does.Telegram also became a hangout for crypto/<a target="_blank" href="https://www.vox.com/recode/22907072/web3-crypto-nft-bitcoin-metaverse">Web3</a> fans during the last crypto bubble. <a target="_blank" href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/toncoin/">TON, a cryptocurrency connected to the service, saw its value drop sharply</a> following Durov's arrest this weekend.<h2 id="2c6e3f41-177b-4a55-9f59-13f8901992ed">Why was Pavel Durov arrested on Saturday?</h2>We don't know with any real certainty, since French officials haven't said much. But on Monday, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/26/business/telegram-founder-arrest-france.html">The New York Times</a> reported that a French prosecutor said Durov was arrested as "part of an investigation opened on July 8 'against person unnamed' on a raft of potential charges, including complicity in the distribution of child pornography and selling of drugs, money laundering, and a refusal to cooperate with law enforcement."Durov himself has yet to be charged.On Sunday, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/telegram-messaging-app-ceo-pavel-durov-arrested-france-tf1-tv-says-2024-08-24/">Reuters</a>, citing a French police source, said that Durov "was arrested as part of a preliminary police investigation into allegedly allowing a wide range of crimes due to a lack of moderators on Telegram and a lack of cooperation with police." The Times had <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/25/technology/pavel-durov-telegram-detained-france.html">speculated</a> that "French authorities may try to force Telegram to share information with them on criminal channels that, for instance, are used to sell firearms or coordinate terrorist attacks."There have also been unconfirmed suspicions that Durov's arrest had something to do with strained relations between France and Russia.Durov, who lives in Dubai, is a Russian citizen. And while he has said he started Telegram because of a dispute with Russian authorities, the government there has allowed Telegram to stay in business while it has blocked other social media services like Facebook and Twitter.That's led observers like tech analyst Ben Thompson to float the possibility that Durov's arrest is "on the level of espionage and spycraft." On Monday, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/telegram-standing-behind-its-ceo-after-his-arrest-in-paris-2024-8">French President Emmanuel Macron</a> insisted this was not the case, saying the arrest was part of an "ongoing judicial investigation" and that "this is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to decide."<h2 id="5b620418-0f0a-40b1-bded-b0a7acbd57c3">Why is this such a big deal?</h2>The most obvious reason is that we haven't seen someone who runs a big social media platform arrested when traveling abroad before. Picture <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg">Mark Zuckerberg</a> or Elon Musk getting tossed in jail after stepping off their private plane.That said, people who run tech companies with global reach — generally, Americans who live in America — have been dealing with the fact that different countries have different rules about tech and the internet for quite some time. And the way they've dealt with those differences is by accepting the rules of the road in the countries where they operate.That's why <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tim-cook-leaked-apple-memo-explains-hkmap-live-app-removal-2019-10">Apple took down an app</a> used by Hong Kong protestors in 2019, after China complained. And it's why Netflix took down an episode of comedian <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-hasan-miinhajs-patriot-act-episode-saudi-arabia-khashoggi-2019-1">Hasan Minhaj's show</a> that was critical of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, after Saudi officials said the show violated an anti-cybercrime law.That's not the only option for US or Western companies who don't like the way their services are regulated in other countries. Some companies have fought local rules or regulators, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/08/india-twitter-online-censorship/">like Twitter did in India</a> prior to Musk's purchase of the service, or as Musk has done with his service in Brazil. Musk recently announced that he was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/17/elon-musks-x-to-shut-operations-in-brazil-amid-bitter-legal-fight">shuttering</a> his company's operations in that country, though the service would remain accessible to Brazilian users.

What is Telegram and why did France just arrest its CEO? 

New Delhi, The <keyword id="43909" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="defence-Ministry" source="Orion">defence ministry</keyword> on Thursday approved the proposed procurement of 26 Naval variant of <keyword id="6381048" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rafale" source="Orion">Rafale</keyword> jets from France, people familiar with the development said. The project was cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (<keyword id="456872" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="DAC" source="Orion">DAC</keyword>) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a two-day visit to Paris. The DAC, which is the defence ministry's highest decision making body on procurement, also cleared a proposal for construction of three more Scorpene submarines in India. The mega <keyword id="75940" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="defence-projects" source="Orion">defence projects</keyword> are expected to be announced after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday. The DAC's approval to the projects came around a week after they were cleared by the Defence Procurement Board (DPB). The Indian Navy is looking for procurement of 26 deck-based fighter jets for indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. After a lengthy process, the Navy had narrowed down on Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet and French aerospace major Dassault Aviation's Rafale M aircraft for the procurement. Later, Rafale-M, the naval variant of the lethal jet, emerged as the winner in the tight race. India has already procured 36 Rafale jets from France for the Indian Air Force. The Rafale jets are India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 year after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia. Another important project with France would be the follow on order of three Scorpene submarines. Under Project 75, six Scorpene submarines have already been made in India. PTi MPB DV DV

Procurement of 26 Rafale jets for Navy approved

A French judge has been appointed to lead a "highly sensitive" judicial investigation into alleged "<keyword id="46183" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Corruption">corruption</keyword> and favouritism" in the Rs 59,000 crore <keyword id="6381048" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="rafale">Rafale</keyword> fighter jet deal with India, French investigative website Mediapart reported. Following the development, Congress chief spokesperson <keyword id="498878" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Randeep-Surjewala">Randeep Surjewala</keyword> on Saturday urged Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> to come forward and order a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Rafale deal. "Corruption in the Rafale deal has come out clearly now. The stand of the Congress party and <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> has been vindicated today after the French government has ordered a probe," he told reporters at a press conference. However, there was no immediate reaction from the Indian government or the BJP. The Mediapart said the probe into the inter-governmental deal signed in 2016 was formally opened on June 14. "A judicial probe into suspected corruption has been opened in France over the 7.8-billion-euro sale to India in 2016 of 36 Dassault-built Rafale fighter aircraft," the Mediapart reported on the latest development on the controversial deal. It said the investigation has been initiated by the national financial prosecutors' office (PNF). The judicial investigation has been ordered by France's national financial prosecutors' office, following Mediapart's fresh reports in April of alleged wrongdoings in the deal as well as a complaint filed by French NGO Sherpa that specialises in financial crime. "The highly sensitive probe into the inter-governmental deal signed off in 2016 was formally opened on June 14th," the media report said. Mediapart journalist Yann Philippin, who filed a series of reports on the deal, said a first complaint was "buried" in 2019 by a former PNF chief. "The judicial investigation was finally opened following the revelations of the investigation #RafalePapers of @mediapart and a new complaint from @Asso_Sherpa. A 1st complaint was buried in 2019 by the former PNF boss, Eliane Houlette," he tweeted. In April, Mediapart, citing an investigation by the country's anti-corruption agency, reported that Dassault Aviation had paid about one million Euros to an Indian middleman. Dassault Aviation has rejected the allegations of corruption, saying no violations were reported in the frame of the contract. The <keyword id="105903" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Democratic-Alliance">National Democratic Alliance</keyword> (NDA) government had inked a Rs 59,000-crore deal on September 23, 2016, to procure 36 Rafale jets from French aerospace major Dassault Aviation after a nearly seven-year exercise to procure 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) for the <keyword id="15141" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force">Indian Air Force</keyword> did not fructify during the <keyword id="83449" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="United-Progressive-Alliance">United Progressive Alliance</keyword> (UPA) regime. The Congress accused the government of massive irregularities in the deal, alleging that it was procuring each aircraft at a cost of over Rs 1,670 crore as against Rs 526 crore finalised by the UPA government during the negotiations for the MMRCA. Prior to the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, the Congress raised several questions about the deal and alleged corruption but the government rejected all the charges. SEE ALSO- <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/bharatpes-banking-licence-digits-funding-mswipes-new-ceo-and-more-mega-deals-and-launches-in-indias-fintech-space-/slidelist/84085401.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">BharatPe’s banking licence, Digit’s funding, Mswipe’s new CEO and more -- mega deals and launches in India’s fintech space</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/google-crypto-tokens-binances-regulatory-troubles-free-nfts-and-more/slidelist/84086617.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Google’s crypto tokens, Binance’s regulatory troubles, free NFTs and more — Here’s what happened in the world of crypto this past week</a>

India's deal to buy Rafale fighter jets will face a judicial probe for alleged corruption in France

<keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> will receive its 36th and final Rafale fighter jet from France by December 15 completing the delivery of all the aircraft it had signed for in an over Rs 60,000 crore deal inked in 2016. "The last aircraft will arrive in India around December 15. The aircraft was used for developing the India-specific enhancements in the Rafale fleet of the <keyword id="15141" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="indian-air-force" source="Orion">Indian Air Force</keyword>," senior defence officials told ANI. India had signed a deal for 36 of these planes and 35 of them have already arrived and are stationed at Ambala, <keyword id="41646" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="haryana" source="Orion">Haryana</keyword> and Hashimara in West Bengal. The officials said the 36th aircraft with RB tail number has been provided to the Indian side by France with all its spares and other parts replaced as it was being used for developmental activities. Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force has also started upgrading the planes to the highest standards and has been equipped with all India-specific enhancements. The Rafale is a 4.5-generation aircraft and has helped India regain its supremacy over Indian sub-constituent skies with long-range air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles along with advanced radar and electronic warfare capabilities. The French firm <keyword id="230239" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="dassault-aviation" source="Orion">Dassault Aviation</keyword> is also involved in the maintenance of the aircraft whose serviceability is over 75 per cent. The Rafale was inducted swiftly into the Indian Air Force at the peak of the conflict with China and started operating over Ladakh within a week of its arrival in the country. The IAF also quickly fired and operationalized the long-range <keyword id="1565035" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="meteor" source="Orion">Meteor</keyword> air-to-air missiles as well as the <keyword id="55648" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="scalp" source="Orion">Scalp</keyword> air-to-ground missiles. The IAF has also added the HAMMER missile to the Rafale's arsenal as it was required for carrying out precision attacks at shorter distances. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/justice-dy-chandrachud-to-take-oath-as-50th-chief-justice-of-india-today/articleshow/95392300.cms">Justice DY Chandrachud to take oath as 50th Chief Justice of India today</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-should-decrease-its-dependence-on-russia-over-time-says-us-state-dept/articleshow/95394441.cms">India should decrease its dependence on Russia over time says US State Dept</a>

India to receive its last Rafale by December 15

Defence minister Rajnath Singh landed at Merignac Airport in the southwestern French town of Bordeaux on Tuesday for the handover ceremony of the first Rafale combat jet acquired by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The minister, who earlier held wide-ranging talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, said his visit was aimed at "expanding the strategic partnership" between India and France. In Bordeaux, Singh will begin with a tour of Rafale manufacturer Dassault Aviation's plant before a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first Rafale combat jet. Arrangements have also been made for a traditional Indian Shastra Puja, or weapons' worship which forms part of Dussehra celebrations and this year also marks Air Force Day - IAF's 87th anniversary. "Greetings to all IAF personnel and their families on the 87th IAF Day," Singh said in a tweet. "The IAF is the shining example of exemplary courage, fortitude, determination and impeccable service to our nation. These men and women in Blue have the ability to touch the sky with grit and glory," he said. After the handover ceremony, the minister is scheduled to fly a sortie in the Rafale jet following a brief Shastra Puja conducted by him, which will conclude with the traditional breaking of a coconut before the new aircraft. "Raksha Mantri will participate in the Rafale fighter aircraft handing over ceremony at Merignac along with French minister of Armed Forces Florence Parly," a ministry of defence spokesperson said. "He will also perform the Shastra Puja on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami and fly a sortie in the Rafale fighter aircraft," the spokesperson said. Members of the top military brass of France as well as senior officials of Dassault Aviation will also be present at the ceremony. India had ordered 36 Rafale fighter jets from France in a deal worth Rs 59,000 crore in September 2016. While the formal handover ceremony takes place this week, the first batch of four Rafale jets will fly to their home base in India by May 2020. All 36 jets are expected to arrive in India by September 2022, for which the IAF has been reportedly undertaking preparations, including readying required infrastructure and training of pilots. The Rafale is a twin-jet fighter aircraft able to operate from both an aircraft carrier and a shore base. The manufacturers describe it as a fully versatile aircraft which can carry out all combat aviation missions to achieve air superiority and air defence, close air support, in-depth strikes, reconnaissance, anti-ship strikes and nuclear deterrence. "In the defence sector, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is our longest standing export customer and has been flying Dassault aircraft since 1953. The acquisition contract for 36 Rafale signed in 2016 and the modernisation of the Mirage 2000 I/TI are a continuation of this historic partnership," Dassault Aviation said in a statement. The Rafale jets intended for India are expected to come with certain bespoke modifications for the IAF and have been awaited as a crucial enhancement to India's Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft fleet. The first Rafale jet will come with tail number RB 001, with RB denoting the initials of Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Bhadauria who played a key role in striking the deal for the jets in his previous role as IAF deputy chief.

Rajnath Singh arrives for Rafale handover ceremony in France

As it prepares to induct a <keyword id="10112494" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="second-batch-of-rafale-jets">second batch of Rafale jets</keyword>, the <keyword id="15141" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force">Indian Air Force</keyword> has sent a team of officials to France to oversee the logistical issues and review the training of a hand-picked group of pilots at the Saint-Dizier air base there, officials said on Thursday. The second batch of four <keyword id="6381048" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="rafale">Rafale</keyword> jets is expected to arrive in India in the next four weeks. The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29, nearly four years after India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36 of these aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. Several teams from the IAF have visited France since January to oversee the progress of the Rafale project including integration of India-specific enhancements and weapons systems, the officials said. The IAF's Rafale project management team has an office in Paris headed by a Group Captain-rank officer. The team is tasked with overseeing the production timelines as well as coordinating training of the crew. A team of experts headed by assistant chief of air staff (projects) reached France earlier this week to coordinate logistical issues as well as training of pilots and technicians, said the officials. The first batch of Rafale jets was finally inducted into the IAF on September 10. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria on October 5 said the induction of all 36 Rafale jets will be completed by 2023. Ten Rafale jets have been delivered to India so far and five of them stayed back in France for imparting training to IAF pilots. Known for their air-superiority and precision strikes, the Rafale jets are India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 year after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia. The newly inducted fleet has been carrying out sorties in eastern Ladakh where Indian and Chinese troops are engaged in a bitter border row for over five months. A group of IAF pilots is currently undergoing training on Rafale jets at the Saint-Dizier airbase in eastern France. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/pnb-yes-bank-central-bank-of-india-idbi-and-six-more-indian-banks-are-the-worst-performing-bank-stocks-in-asia-pacific/articleshow/78679569.cms">10 out of 15 worst-performing bank stocks in Asia-Pacific are Indian — PNB, YES Bank, Central Bank of India, IDBI among them</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/whatsapp-google-amazon-and-facebook-under-the-scanner-for-data-protection-violations-as-supreme-court-calls-on-rbi-and-npci-to-investigate/articleshow/78678174.cms">Whatsapp, Google, Amazon and Facebook under the scanner for data protection violations as Supreme Court calls on RBI and NPCI to investigate</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/chinese-president-xi-jinping-tells-marine-troops-to-be-on-high-alert-and-prepare-for-war/articleshow/78675715.cms">Chinese President Xi Jinping tells marine troops to be on ‘high alert’ and ‘prepare for war’ as tensions in the South China Sea continue to grow</a>

Indian Air Force to induct more Rafale fighter jets — team heads to France for preparations

<keyword id="6354785" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="france" source="Orion">France</keyword> wants to be <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>'s "best partner" in boosting its <keyword id="2377476" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="defence-manufacturing" source="Orion">defence manufacturing</keyword> and has decided to share the <keyword id="15204665" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="best-technologies-and-equipment" source="Orion">best technologies and equipment</keyword> in sync with the growing "trust" between the two sides, French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain has said. Without divulging specific details, the envoy said French and Indian companies are working together on "equipment of the future", platforms and engines. "I do not think any country provides India with the same level of technology. The progress is also due to the fact that we recognise that India wants to boost its strategic autonomy, wants to build its industrial base and we want to be India's best partner in this move," he told PTI. Indo-French strategic ties have been on a major upswing after India inked an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for the procurement of 36 Rafale jets at a cost of around Rs 59,000 crore. "Defence has always been a very strong component of our cooperation because there is a lot of trust between our two countries. When you want to work on these issues, you need trust because you commit yourself for 10, 20, 30 years," Lenain said. "This trust is the main asset that we have. Defence cooperation has been developing very well because we are very comfortable with India and we have decided that we could share our best technology, state-of-the-art equipment, best-in-class technology," he said. The two sides are now looking at further bolstering the strategic partnership in view of the evolving global geo-political landscape triggered by the crisis in Ukraine and developments in the Indo-Pacific region. "From the beginning, we were the best partners in the Make-in-India policy. Now that India is switching to the Atma Nirbhar policy, we are also there for India," Lenain said. He said France is ready to co-develop equipment with India and share know-how. "Our companies are working together on the equipment of the future, on engines, on different sorts of equipment. It is very positive for both industries," he said. Lenain chose not to give a direct reply when asked about the possibility of the Indian Air Force procuring additional Rafales and whether France was also looking at supplying the naval version of the jet to the Indian Navy. "We are talking, and again, we are very much willing to provide state-of-the-art equipment. Everything is on the table and we do our best," he said. French aerospace major Safran has already set the ball rolling to set up its biggest maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Hyderabad with an investment of around USD 305 million. "It is a partnership of equals and it is a partnership to boost each other's strategic autonomy," Lenain said. Ways to expand defence and security cooperation figured during French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna's visit to India last month. In December last year, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said France has agreed to jointly build aircraft engine with India. In 2017, India unveiled the ambitious strategic partnership (SP) model to facilitate joint ventures between select private Indian firms and foreign defence majors to build military platforms like submarines and fighter jets in India. The SP model aims to create a vibrant defence manufacturing ecosystem in the country through joint ventures between Indian corporates and global defence majors. The government has initiated a series of measures in the last few years to boost domestic defence manufacturing. In March, the defence ministry said it plans to procure military equipment worth Rs five lakh crore from the domestic industries in the next five to seven years in line with its policy of promoting indigenous defence manufacturing. India has been one of the largest importers of arms globally. According to estimates, the Indian armed forces are projected to spend around USD 130 billion (one billion is equal to 100 crores) in capital procurement in the next five years. The government now wants to reduce dependence on imported military platforms and has decided to support domestic defence manufacturing. The defence ministry has set a goal of a turnover of USD 25 billion (Rs 1.75 lakh crore) in defence manufacturing in the next five years, including an export target of USD 5 billion worth of military hardware. SEE ALSO:

France wants to be India's best partner in defence manufacturing: French envoy Lenain

<ul><li><keyword id="15141" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force">Indian Air Force</keyword> (IAF) will participate in the sixth edition of <keyword id="3243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Varuna">Varuna</keyword> exercises with <keyword id="162534" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="French-Air-Force">French Air Force</keyword> (FAF) from July 1-14. </li><li>It is set to be the largest-ever air exercise conducted between the two countries </li><li>It is important for IAF as Rafale fighters are set to arrive in India this year. </li></ul>The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be in France from July 1-14 to participate in its biggest joint air exercise with the country. The Air Force’s contingent for the exercise is named the <keyword id="7796625" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Garuda-Contingent">Garuda Contingent</keyword>. This is the sixth edition of the air exercises between IAF and the French Air Force (FAF). It is an important opportunity as IAF can gain experience in operating its current fleet of <keyword id="1055772" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sukhoi-Su-30">Sukhoi SU-30</keyword> fighters with the Rafales. Indian government had ordered 36 Rafale fighter jets from France, and the first delivery is expected this year. The Garuda contingent will include a large number of its own assets including 10 Sukhoi SU-30 fighters, an Ilyushin IL-78 aerial refuelling tanker, an Ilyushin IL-76 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) and 150 Indian Air Force (IAF) officers. Indo-French defence cooperation on high The Indian and French Naval forces also took part in the Varuna naval exercise in May. The naval exercise were also the largest-ever they took part in. Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and French aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle, were the highlights of the exercise, which was conducted in two phases. In 2018, India and France signed a strategic pact allowing each others navies and naval facilities. The pact also allows them to open up naval bases for warships. Garuda is the name Indian Air Force uses for its bilateral air exercises with France. Indian army conducts military exercises with France under the name Shakti. The fourth edition of the Varuna exercises took place in 2014 in Jodhpur, India. The event was attended by French Air Chief General Denis Mercier. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indian-army-is-setting-up-integrated-battle-groups-along-the-pakistan-border-which-will-be-self-sufficient-to-fight-a-war/articleshow/69884097.cms">Indian Army is setting up ‘Integrated battle groups’ along the Pakistan border which will be self-sufficient to fight a war</a>

France and India come closer after Rafale deal, to conduct largest-ever air exercises

<ul><li>India's Supreme Court will consider fresh evidence to be produced by petitioners.</li><li>Judges turn down the incumbent government's appeal against the sourcing of the evidence.</li><li>Government had contended that the new evidence may not be admissible because the documents were 'privileged'.</li></ul> India's most recent corruption scandal involving the Narendra Modi government's agreement to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets from French company Dassault has seen a fresh twist. The country's top court will consider fresh evidence brought in by the petitioners against the government. The government's appeal that the documents to be presented were 'privileged', and crucial to national security, and, therefore, inadmissible as evidence, has been unanimously turned down by the bench of judges, including the <keyword id="45053" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chief-Justice-of-India">Chief Justice of India</keyword>. A Indian daily alleged, <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rafale-modi-govt-gave-unprecedented-waivers-in-offset-agreements/article26775545.ece" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">citing classified documents</a>, that the Modi administration gave unprecedented waivers to the French company escalating the cost of the deal. The series of reports were taken up by the petitioners in the case for seeking a review of the earlier judgement that was initially ruled in favour of the government. So far, even the federal auditor, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, had also given the government a clean chit in the <keyword id="921384" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rafale-deal">Rafale deal</keyword>. The latest Supreme Court order to consider the fresh evidence has come a day before polling begins in the 2019 general elections where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a second term. His rivals are likely to turn up the heat on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the eve of the polling to tilt the scales in their favour. The Rafale deal In April 2015, the Indian government announced that it will buy 36 Rafale fighter jets off-the-shelf, scaling back from an earlier agreement, struck by the previous government, to buy a total of 126 jets, of which 18 would be off-the-shelf. Rivals have accused the Modi government of reworking the deal at higher cost to the taxpayer, of about ₹58,000 crore, and adding clauses that would benefit a friendly industrialist, Anil Ambani, whose company Reliance Defence had been picked as Dassault's Indian partner. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cag-report-on-rafale-deal-tabled-in-parliament-says-jets-cheaper-under-modi-government-than-upa/articleshow/67970948.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">CAG report on Rafale deal is a blessing for Modi government</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/Seven-shocking-details-about-how-India-buys-arms/Chinook-Heavy-Lift/slideshow/67982017.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Seven shocking truths about how India buys arms</a>

Rafale fighter jets case: India's Supreme Court will consider fresh evidence against Narendra Modi government

India’s federal auditor, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), gave the Modi government a comfortable headline — the final cost of Rafale jets as negotiated by the incumbent government was cheaper than the deal struck by the previous Congress government. While the report deftly evaded the questions of alleged corruption, it has certainly exposed a set of serious problems in the way India buys its arms and ammunition, no matter which political party is in power. The issues highlighted by Rajiv Mehrishi, the CAG, not only indicate the room for and possibilities of corruption and kickbacks, it may also compel people to question if the country’s unsuspecting forces are wielding substandard equipment. Here are some of the shocking truths: 1. Requirements are changed to include or exclude specific vendors The rules mandate that the Indian Air Force must clearly state its needs in verifiable and measurable terms before inviting bids from suppliers. People do that even before buying phones-- have a clear picture of what features they need and a price range-- before going to a shop or a website to buy a phone. Here, we are speaking about defence equipment. But, the CAG report noted, the requirements of the Air Force are changed several times. The Air Force diluted its needs in the purchase of Attack Helicopter and the <keyword id="134615" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Doppler-Weather-Radar">Doppler Weather Radar</keyword> as no vendor could meet its requirement. What is worse? The audit noted that in case of acquisition of Apache Attack Helicopters and Chinook Heavy Lift Helicopters, “the Air Staff Qualitiative Requirements (ASQR) were aligned to products of a particular vendor.” 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Chinook Heavy Lift" msid="67982017" hostid="261"></div>













 India approved the purchase of Chinook Heavy Lift Helicopters and Apache Attack Helicopters from Boeing in 2015 for $2.5 billion under the Modi government. Boeing’s Chinook was up against Russian MI-26, which offered nearly double the capacity to transport weapons, supplies and soldiers. Suppose, forces have to be transported to a conflict zone, Chinook would take twice as many trips as the MI-26 would have. But the Air Force reduced its requirement which allowed for Boeing's bid to be accepted. Essentially, the needs of the Air Force were tweaked to match Boeing’s offering. 2. The decision to pick a certain aircraft, weapon or a vendor over another is often ad hoc In an ideal situation, the government would have a benchmark price set for a particular purchase, and the bids can be evaluated in relation to the benchmark. However, in many cases, the government changed the benchmark prices after opening the bids and ended up favouring one vendor over the others. In some cases like the procurement of Doppler Weather Radars and Apache Attack Helicopters, technical bids were rejected when the vendors failed to meet the parameters. But in other cases that included MMRCA, Heavy Lift Helicopters and C130 J30 aircraft, bids were technically qualified even when they did not meet critical ASQRs based on the assurance given by the respective vendors. 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Apache Attack Helicopter" msid="67982126" hostid="261"></div>













 3. A vendor is allowed to make changes even after placing a bid In the case of the Basic Trainer Aircraft supplied by Pilatus, the Swiss company was allowed to change its offer after the bids were received from all potential vendors. The two other vendors had offered a better price by including certain hardware within their bid that Pilatus hadn’t. 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Basic Trainer Pilatus" msid="67982127" hostid="261"></div>













 However, instead of accepting one of the other bids, the government decided to seek a clarification from Pilatus and allowed it to make its bid competitive again. The contract was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security, under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by the Congress, in May 2012. 4. Vendors can get away giving assurances What’s more unfair than allowing vendors to change bids after submission? At times when the vendor does not meet the requirements still, the government has taken the supplier’s word for future improvements, while either undermining the needs of the forces, or putting lives at risk. Both MI-26 and Chinook were cleared based on the presentation/assurance of the vendor to rectify the ASQR non-compliance before delivery. 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="MI26" msid="67982128" hostid="261"></div>













 The government does not even maintain proper records of the field trials of the equipments that were considered, making future reviews of such decisions difficult. 5. India could have bought weapons for cheaper prices but... Indians buying cars, or even two wheelers, are notorious for being penny wise. They not only consider the mileage but also the cost of maintenance before making their choice. Similarly, for defence equipment, mid-life upgrades for sustainment of the capabilities, if not for enhancement, should ideally be considered. However, the Indian government is a lot more lax, or selective in enforcing prudence. Out of eight cases, the government did not consider the costs that may be incurred during the life of the product purchased. For example, in 2017, the government decided that it <a href="https://www.defensenews.com/training-sim/2017/07/20/swiss-firm-not-extending-maintenance-deal-for-indias-pc-7-trainers/">cannot</a> continue using Pilatus’ trainer aircraft because the maintenance cost was raised too high. If this had been considered at the time of purchase, some other vendor may beat the Swiss manufacturer. 6. Endless delays The delay in decisions, signing of the contracts,and eventual procurement by the Indian government can be termed ‘proverbial’. “Against three years envisaged in Defence Procurement Process, four cases took more than three years and seven cases took more than five years to reach the contract conclusion stage. Delays in acquisition was essentially due to a complex and multi-level approval process, where objections could be raised at any stage,” the CAG report said. And delays cost money. 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Doppler Weather Radar" msid="67982119" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The contract for Doppler Weather Radar was signed in 2012 and the actual delivery was in 2016.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>













 7. Unforced errors leading to higher cost India’s bureaucracy has also acted lazy at times. For instance, for all procurements from Russia or CIS countries, India allows for a 5% annual increase in cost, and for European suppliers the cost is allowed to increase by 3.5% every year of delay. The actual increase, going by market rates, would have been less than half. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cag-rajiv-mehrishi-who-tabled-rafale-deal-audit-report-in-parliament/articleshow/67975553.cms">The man who audited the Rafale deal is now the subject of the controversy</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cag-report-on-rafale-deal-tabled-in-parliament-says-jets-cheaper-under-modi-government-than-upa/articleshow/67970948.cms">CAG report on Rafale deal is a blessing for Modi government</a>

Seven shocking truths about how India buys arms

<ul><li>India's Supreme Court will consider fresh evidence to be produced by petitioners in the <keyword id="921384" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rafale-deal">Rafale deal</keyword>.</li><li>Judges turn down the incumbent government's appeal against the sourcing of the evidence.</li><li>The Government had contended that the new evidence may not be admissible because they were 'privileged' documents. </li></ul>A nearly 40-year old verdict from the Supreme Court of US, in the Pentagon papers leak that unraveled America's involvement in the Vietnam war, has become the basis of the latest court verdict in an alleged corruption case against the Indian government. The country's most recent scandal involving the Narendra Modi's agreement to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets from French company Dassault has seen a fresh twist. The country's top court will consider fresh evidence brought in by the petitioners against the government. The government's appeal that the documents to be presented were 'privileged', <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rafale-documents-not-stolen-petitioners-used-photocopies-attorney-general/articleshow/68322747.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">deemed secret by the government</a>, and, therefore, inadmissible as evidence, has been unanimously turned down by the bench of judges, including the Chief Justice of India. A Indian daily alleged, <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rafale-modi-govt-gave-unprecedented-waivers-in-offset-agreements/article26775545.ece" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">citing classified documents</a>, that the Modi administration gave unprecedented waivers to the French company escalating the cost to the exchequer. The series of reports were taken up by the petitioners in the case for seeking a review of the earlier judgement that did not find any reason to doubt the government's decision. The Modi government's Attorney General, KK Venugopal, contended that the sourcing of these documents by the newspaper, The Hindu, was a breach of the <keyword id="167751" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Official-Secrets-Act">Official Secrets Act</keyword>. However, that has now been turned down by the Indian Supreme Court. However, the petitioners cited the US Supreme Court verdict on the Pentagon papers leak to say that once documents are published, the government can no longer claim privilege. In 1971, the New York Times had published <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/20/us/pentagon-papers-post.html" data-type="tilCustomLink">leaked papers from the Pentagon</a>, the headquarters of the US Department of Defense, that uncovered America's secret involvement in the Vietnam war. Following the leaks, the then US government had tried to book the whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg for conspiracy, espionage, and theft of government property and endangering national security. The charges against Ellsberg were later dropped. The Rafale deal In April 2015, the Indian government announced that it will buy 36 Rafale fighter jets off-the-shelf, scaling back from an earlier agreement, struck by the previous government, to buy a total of 126 jets, of which 18 would be off-the-shelf. Rivals have accused the Modi government of reworking the deal at higher cost to the taxpayer, of about ₹58,000 crore, and adding clauses that would benefit a friendly industrialist, Anil Ambani, whose company Reliance Defence had been picked as Dassault's Indian partner. To be clear, while questions have been raised against the Rafale deal, so far nothing has been proven beyond doubt. Even the federal auditor, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, had given the government a clean chit. The latest Supreme Court order to consider the fresh evidence has come a day before polling begins in the 2019 general elections where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a second term. His rivals are likely to turn up the heat on the ruling coalition led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the eve of the polling to tilt the scales in their favour. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cag-report-on-rafale-deal-tabled-in-parliament-says-jets-cheaper-under-modi-government-than-upa/articleshow/67970948.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">CAG report on Rafale deal is a blessing for Modi government</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/Seven-shocking-details-about-how-India-buys-arms/Chinook-Heavy-Lift/slideshow/67982017.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Seven shocking truths about how India buys arms</a>

You Searched For "India France rafale deal" and got 13 results

India to buy 26 Rafales, 3 Scorpene submarines from France, deals likely to be announced during PM Modi's visit

ANI

France's Rafale fighter jet is so popular its manufacturer can't keep up

Michael Peck

What is Telegram and why did France just arrest its CEO?

Peter Kafka

Procurement of 26 Rafale jets for Navy approved

PTI

India's deal to buy Rafale fighter jets will face a judicial probe for alleged corruption in France

PTI

India to receive its last Rafale by December 15

ANI

Rajnath Singh arrives for Rafale handover ceremony in France

PTI

Indian Air Force to induct more Rafale fighter jets — team heads to France for preparations

PTI

France wants to be India's best partner in defence manufacturing: French envoy Lenain

PTI

France and India come closer after Rafale deal, to conduct largest-ever air exercises

BI India Bureau

Rafale fighter jets case: India's Supreme Court will consider fresh evidence against Narendra Modi government

Sriram Iyer

Seven shocking truths about how India buys arms

Sriram Iyer

The US verdict on Pentagon papers leak has put India's Narendra Modi government in a spot

Sriram Iyer

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides