India Withdraws Request for 126 Rafale Fighters From France

Parrikar said in late May that New Delhi required only 36 Rafale fighter aircraft instead of the previously planned 126. A month earlier, the French and Indian leaders announced a scaling down of the 2012 contract on the supply of 126 jets.

"The Request For Proposal (RFP) issued earlier for procurement of 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) has been withdrawn," Parrikar said in a written reply to the Indian upper house of parliament.

He added that the Indian government intends to acquire 36 jets "in fly-away condition as quickly as possible."

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