Asia (bbabo.net), - French manufacturer Dassault Aviation's Rafale-M multi-role fighter jet bypasses its rival Boeing's F / A-18 Super Hornet in the fight for a mega-contract with the Indian Navy for the supply of 27 combat vehicles, the American Boeing Corporation's F / A-18 Super Hornet, reports the Indian news portal The Print.

Sources in the Indian Ministry of Defense shared with the publication that the country's Navy had submitted a detailed report on the characteristics of the two said strike systems, which are a naval version of the fighters. Boeing and Dassault Aviation previously conducted operational demonstrations of the Super Hornets and Rafale-M, respectively, demonstrating the fighter's vertical take-off and confined-space landing capabilities at the INS Hansa onshore test site in Goa. The Indian Navy plans to deploy fighter jets on its aircraft-carrying cruisers.

Without elaborating on details, the sources said that the Indian Navy's report to the Ministry of Defense mentioned only "positive points" regarding the French aircraft and noted that the Rafale-M met all the criteria.

It should be noted that by giving preference to the French fighter, New Delhi risks spoiling relations with Washington. Recently, India and the United States have noticeably stepped up defense cooperation, a series of joint military exercises have been held, including in territories adjacent to the disputed sections of the Indian-Chinese border.

In November last year, it became known that the Indian side suspended participation in the program to create the first domestic fifth generation fighter FGFA (Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft) based on the Russian Su-57. It was explained that the program was suspended "until the adoption of the Su-57 by the Russian Armed Forces."

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