India received the last Dassault Rafale fighter jet under an $8.5 billion contract from 2016

The Indian Air Force received all the aircraft under a contract with Dassault Aviation, which was signed six years ago.

Here's What We Know

India's purchase of Rafale fighters demonstrates once again that it is a very long process. The French company won the tender in 2012, and the contract was not signed until four years later. The cost of the deal was almost €7.88 billion ($8.5 billion).

India has ordered 36 Rafale fighters. By simple mathematics it can be calculated that the average cost per plane is approximately €219 million ($236 million). But do not forget that the contract includes the supply of weapons and equipment.

The last plane, the 36th, took off from France and was refueled en route by a United Arab Emirates Air Force tanker. In total, India received 28 aircraft in the single-seat version and eight in the two-seat version.

Source: @EAC_IAF
Image: The Eurasian Times