India Buys 126 Fighter Jets in Apparent Military Race with China

Rafale B French Air Forces

The battle between India and China for the coveted spot of the world’s largest emerging superpower just got a little more heated. India, in a move largely assumed to do with China, is upping its military ante with the purchase of 126 fighter jets from France.

The subcontinent has also taken delivery of a nuclear-powered submarine from Russia and prepared for its first aircraft carrier in recent weeks, according to a report by the Associated Press. India, which has long dominated the region in terms of military power, believes China has been more aggressive in the arena over the last few years.

Though the country is used to focusing its military attention on neighbor and longtime foe Pakistan, India’s relationship with China has always been of a tense nature–dating back to the 1962 border war. India’s recent purchases to combat China’s influence over the Indian Ocean are estimated to run into tens of billions of dollars–the cost of the 126 fighter jets is estimated at $11 billion alone.

Most of India’s military equipment to date is comprised of outdated Soviet-era weapons. Its recent purchases mark a long overdue modernization of the Indian military, a necessity if it wants to compete with China on a global scale.