Two people familiar with the decision confirmed it on Wednesday. The purchase is a deterrent to rival China's growing naval presence in Indian Ocean.

The people, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media, said that a deal would be signed in the coming weeks after the purchase had been approved by India's Cabinet Committee on Security Affairs, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India is planning to purchase 22 single-seater aircraft and four twin-seater aircraft from France's Dassault Aviation. This deal will strengthen India's defence relationship with the country's second largest arms supplier.

People said that France's Minister of Defence plans to visit India before the signing.

A person claimed that the deal was worth around 630 billion rupees (7 billion dollars). A spokesperson for the Indian defence ministry did not respond when asked to comment.

India is also acquiring the equipment to modernise their military, get rid of its Soviet-origin weapons and increase domestic weapon production. They have been the largest arms importer in history for many years.

This would also deter any potential threats, at a moment when the Indian Navy claims that China's presence in the Indian Ocean increased in the past decade and they have deployed dual-purpose Chinese ships in the area. Beijing claims to have deployed vessels for peaceful and scientific purposes in the Indian Ocean.

Since 2017, China has also established a military facility in Djibouti in the western Indian Ocean.

The Indian Air Force operates 36 Rafale jet fighters. Meanwhile, the Navy's aircraft fleet is mainly made up of Russian MiG-29s.

(source: Reuters)