Article Posted on : - Jun 28, 2011

French Dassault Rafale (Left) and European Eurofighter.

RAJAHMUNDRY, AP (PTI): India proposes to buy 126 fighter aircraft worth over USD 10 billion to strengthen its airspace, Union Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju said Monday.

Talking to reporters here in his home district East Godavari, he said the Defence Ministry has sanctioned over Rs 40,000 crore for the mega deal.

The ministry had shortlisted the European Eurofighter and the French Dassault Rafale for the 126 Medium-Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal.

Pallam Raju said he along with a five-member delegation recently visited Paris and held talks with the French officials over defence matters and other issues of mutual concern.

"Our talks mainly concentrated on the purchase of 126 fighter planes," he said.

The minister said he would be attending a business conclave being organised in California by the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) later this week.