India on Tuesday announced a number of defence acquisitions and upgradations worth Rs 3,820 crore and decided to hold negotiations for the purchase of 12 French-made Mirage 2005 fighters from Qatar.
The decision comes close on the heels of the US offering to sell F-16 or F-18 warplanes to India.
The Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, also cleared the induction of nine offshore patrol vessels for the navy and the purchase of one C-303 submarine-fired torpedo decoy system from Italy.
It also okayed the proposal to upgrade 14 aircraft carrier-based British-made Sea Harriers.
The CCS also approved the cost revision for the manufacture of intermediate jet trainer by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited from the 1997 estimate of Rs 180 crore to Rs 467 crore, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters.
