Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

India gives initial nod to buy French Rafale jets, submarines

The deal comprises 26 fighter aircraft and three Scorpene class submarines

India gives initial nod to buy French Rafale jets, submarines

INDIA'S defence ministry has given initial approval to purchase 26 Rafale fighter jets for its navy and three Scorpene class submarines, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday (13), ahead of prime minister Narendra Modi's arrival in France.

Modi is on his way to deepen ties with New Delhi's oldest strategic partner in the West, with a slew of high-profile defence deals expected and a new joint plan to ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific.

The deal will be for the purchase of 26 Dassault Aviation Rafale fighter jets, including four trainers, and for three Scorpene class submarines to be made by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders with France's Naval Group, the source said.

The ageing fleet of India's Russian-made platforms, Moscow's inability to perform maintenance work, and delays in India's indigenous manufacturing plans for parallel platforms have necessitated the two new defence deals.

The marine version of Dassualt's Rafale jets, intended for India's first indigenous aircraft carrier commissioned last year, outperformed the American Superhornet F18s in tests last year for Indian requirements.

Details on the deal value are not known yet.

India has relied on French fighter jets for four decades now. Much before buying Rafale in 2015, India bought Mirage jets in 1980s, which still comprise two squadrons of the air force.

In 2005, India bought six Scorpene-class diesel submarines from France for Rs 188 billion (£1.75 bn), the last of which will be commissioned next year.

(Reuters)

More For You

black-smoke-getty

Black smoke is seen from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel as Catholic cardinals gather for a second day to elect a new pope on May 8, 2025 in Vatican City. (Photo: Getty Images)

Cardinals to vote again after second black smoke signals no pope yet

CARDINALS will cast more votes on Thursday afternoon to choose the next pope, after a second round of black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, signalling that no candidate has yet secured the required majority.

The 133 cardinals began the conclave on Wednesday afternoon in the 15th-century chapel to elect a successor to Pope Francis. So far, two rounds of voting have ended without agreement. Black smoke appeared again at lunchtime on Thursday, showing no one had received the two-thirds majority needed.

Keep ReadingShow less
king-charles-ve-day-reuters

King Charles lays a wreath at the grave of the Unknown Warrior during a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. (Photo: Reuters)

Reuters

King Charles leads VE Day service marking 80 years since WWII ended

KING CHARLES joined veterans and members of the royal family at Westminster Abbey on Thursday to mark 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe. The service was the main event in the UK's four-day commemorations of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, which marked Nazi Germany’s surrender on May 8, 1945.

Charles and his son Prince William laid wreaths at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior. The King’s message read: "We will never forget", signed "Charles R". William's wreath message read: "For those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War. We will remember them", signed "William" and "Catherine".

Keep ReadingShow less
NHS worker Darth Vader

Darth Vader is a legendary villain of the 'Star Wars' series, and being aligned with his personality is insulting

Getty

NHS worker compared to Darth Vader awarded £29,000 in tribunal case

An NHS worker has been awarded nearly £29,000 in compensation after a colleague compared her to Darth Vader, the villain from Star Wars, during a personality test exercise in the workplace.

Lorna Rooke, who worked as a training and practice supervisor at NHS Blood and Transplant, was the subject of a Star Wars-themed Myers-Briggs personality assessment in which she was assigned the character of Darth Vader. The test was completed on her behalf by another colleague while she was out of the room.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sunak-Getty

Sunak had earlier condemned the attack in Pahalgam which killed 26 people. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Sunak says India justified in striking terror infrastructure

FORMER prime minister Rishi Sunak said India was justified in striking terrorist infrastructure following the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s Operation Sindoor in Pakistan. His statement came hours after India launched strikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

“No nation should have to accept terrorist attacks being launched against it from a land controlled by another country. India is justified in striking terrorist infrastructure. There can be no impunity for terrorists,” Sunak posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Keep ReadingShow less
india pakistan conflict  British parliament appeals

A family looks at the remains of their destroyed house following cross-border shelling between Pakistani and Indian forces in Salamabad uri village at the Line of Control (LoC).

BASIT ZARGAR/Middle east images/AFP via Getty Images

India-Pakistan conflict: British parliament appeals for de-escalation

THE rising tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor targeting terror camps in Pakistani Kashmir were debated at length in the British Parliament. Members across parties appealed for UK efforts to aid de-escalation in the region.

India launched Operation Sindoor early Wednesday (7), hitting nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan's Punjab province in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack terror attack that killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

Keep ReadingShow less