India has signed a deal with France to buy 36 French-built Rafale fighter planes. The deal, worth an estimated U.S.$9 billion, is the centerpiece of French President Francois Hollande’s visit to India.

“I remind you that these fighter jets are precisely those which are targeting and fighting Islamic State in Syria and in Iraq and they are proving their effectiveness. We have just signed, through our two defense ministers, an intergovernmental agreement,” Hollande said.

Hollande also described the agreement on Rafale as “a decisive step.” Hollande and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi both said further talks were needed to finalize the financing of the deal. Modi had announced the deal when he visited France last spring. The leaders agreed to scale back the original plan for 126 jets to just 36 in flyaway condition, to meet the Indian Air Force’s more urgent needs.

In line with France and India’s commitment to clean energy was the launch of the International Solar Alliance headquarters on the outskirts of New Delhi. And the two leaders also re-affirmed their commitment to cooperate in the fight against international militant groups.

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