India To Cap Dassault Rafale Orders At 36: Defense Minister

Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar, on Thursday said that India will not be placing any follow up orders for more Rafale fighters. This puts at rest on speculations for setting up a manufacturing unit in India for additional numbers of Rafale.

“The money saved by not buying additional rafales will be diverted to Light Combat Aircraft Tejas project. Rafale or MMRCA was never meant to replace the aging MiG-21s but it would be LCA fighter jets. Now we can build more Tejas with the cost saved on 90 Rafales,” Parrikar said during Aaj Tak Manthan Conclave in Delhi Thursday.