According to reports in the Times of India, the Navy has now given the defence ministry a detailed report on these two fighters, which were tested earlier this year, so that a final decision can be made about what will eventually be a government-to-government deal
And as per the report, the French Rafale-M is "more suitable in meeting the operational requirements and criteria" than the Super Hornets.
At the shore-based test facility at INS Hansa in Goa, which has a ski jump that looks like an aircraft carrier's deck, operational demonstration trials were done on both fighters to test their "suitability and capability.
The IAF has already received 36 Rafales, Under the Rs 59,000 crore deal signed with France in September 2016. and has deployed at Ambala and Hasimara. The IAF only has 30 to 31 fighter squadrons, and more such jets are needed to counter the threat posed by China and Pakistan,
The IAF's long-term plan is to get more 4.5-generation fighters with "some fifth-generation capabilities. and Rafales will be a big part of that plan. There could be between 57 and 114 fighters, and most of them will be made in India
