OREANDA-NEWS  India plans to purchase 114 French Rafale aircraft. This was reported by the ANI news agency, citing sources in the country's Defense Ministry. Earlier, according to media reports, the country was planning to purchase Russian Su-57s.

The deal with the French side is estimated at $40 billion. The contract assumes that 97 of the 114 Rafales will be assembled in India, while the country will receive the rest of the aircraft directly from France.

Earlier, the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) of Russia said that India could launch production of the Su-57E.

In April, Military Watch Magazine reported that India would expand orders for fifth-generation Russian aircraft after receiving the first 40 Su—57M1 fighters, an improved version of the Su-57 combat aircraft equipped with AL-51F-1 engines ("product 30").