India to buy French fighter jets Summary Box: India to buy French fighter jets Jan 31 12:06 PM US/Eastern BIG DEAL: India is buying 126 French-made combat aircraft in a massive $11 billion deal that will update its military with the first exported Rafale jets. ARMED WITH CASH: India has become the world's biggest arms importer as an economic boom allows it to push modernization of its military. It is being wooed by major international arms manufacturers as it replaces its obsolete Soviet-era weapons. NERVOUS NEIGHBORS: Growing concerns about China's growing military, as well as decades-old mistrust of Pakistan, have fueled India's impetus to add heft to its defense forces.