The government chose Rafale as the latest fighter for the Indian Air Force around three years ago after it appeared on top by defeating five other competitors in technical evaluations.
Dassault also turned out to be the lowest bidder, compared to the F-18 Super Hornet, F-16, Eurofighter, Gripen and MiG-35. Rafale was preferred because of lower costs, and the Indian Air Force's acquaintance with French warplanes such as the Mirage.
In French, 'Rafale' poetically means a 'sudden gust of wind.'Dassault's Rafale jet is a 9.5-10.5 ton aircraft controlled by 2 SNECMA M88 jet engines, each generating up to 16,500 pounds propel with afterburner.
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