India’s decade-long process to acquire fighter jets will take a significant step forward when the country signs a deal with France to buy 36 Dassault Rafale aircraft expected to cost €8bn. The deal brings to a conclusion one of the most coveted international arms contracts in recent years. It originally saw four defence companies — Dassault, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and the BAE Systems-led Eurofighter consortium — vie to supply New Delhi with 126 jets.