India and France will sign a Rs 63,000 crore agreement on Monday for 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets, officials said. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and the French Ambassador will sign the deal in Delhi; defence ministers of both nations will join virtually, according to the Firstpost.

Cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security on April 9, the contract covers 22 single-seat and four twin-seat Rafale M aircraft, along with maintenance, training, logistics, and indigenous production support.

The Rafale M jets will be deployed on INS Vikrant to bolster carrier-based operations amid performance issues with the MiG-29K fleet. The acquisition is a stopgap measure until India’s indigenous carrier-borne fighter is ready, Firstpost reported.

Sources said the signing event is likeli to be held outside the Defence Ministry headquarters at South Block.The addition will expand India’s Rafale fleet to 62, enhancing its 4.5-generation fighter strength.