Her Ministry of Defense of India gave its initial approval for the purchase 26 Rafale fighters and three Scorpene submarines from the Franceon the day of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris.

Modi is French President Emmanuel Macron’s guest of honor at Bastille Day celebrations. His two-day visit is considered an opportunity for Paris to consolidate its strategic relationship with this country.

Modi was received at the airport by Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne. The Indian Prime Minister will address the Indian community in France tonight and tomorrow morning he will attend the military parade in which a group of Indian soldiers will also participate, with three Rafales.

India, which has already ordered 36 such fighters for its Air Force, wants to acquire another 26 (including four trainers) to equip its first aircraft carrier. The three submarines will be built by India’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in collaboration with France’s Naval Group, two sources told Reuters.

The total value of the contract is estimated to be 800 billion rupees, or about 10 billion euros. The Indian government has not announced the final cost, saying it is one part of the deal still under negotiation.

India has been relying on French fighter jets for four decades. Before buying the Rafales in 2015, it had acquired French Mirages in the 1980s, which today make up two squadrons of its Air Force. In 2005 it bought six diesel-powered Scorpene submarines for 188 billion rupees (about 2.3 billion euros), the last of which will be delivered next year.

After his address to the Indian diaspora, Modi will dine with Emmanuel Macron at the presidential palace. Tomorrow the official dinner will be given at the Louvre Museum, in the presence of 200 guests. A joint statement is also expected to be released. According to India’s Foreign Minister Vinay Quarta, the agenda of the talks will include cooperation in space, nuclear energy, counter-terrorism, cyber security, climate change and renewable energy.