Kuala Lumpur (AFP) - France has submitted a proposal to Malaysia for the purchase of 18 Rafale fighter jets, its defence minister said during a visit to Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
"We provided a full offer to the Malaysian authorities," Jean-Yves Le Drian said at a news conference with his Malaysian counterpart Hishammuddin Hussein.
"This offer will be studied by the authorities."
He added: "This proposal marks the beginning of formal discussions with Malaysia over the acquisition of 18 Rafale planes."
Malaysia has said it intends to replace its ageing fleet of Russian-made MiG aircraft, and along with the Rafale, the American F-18, Sweden's Gripen and the Eurofighter have been mooted as potential replacements.
But Hussein warned that Malaysia would have to judge whether any short-term plans to replace the fleet were affordable, with the country grappling with an economic slowdown and a sharp fall in its currency.
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| French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (2nd L) and Malaysian Defence Minister Hishamuddin Hussein (2nd R) walk after a welcoming ceremony at the Defence Ministry in Kuala Lumpur on September 1, 2015 (AFP Photo/Mohd Rasfan) |
AFP
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