UPDATE 1-India signs deal for 36 French fighter jets to counter China, Pakistan squadrons
September 23, 2016 at 04:27 AM EDT
NEW DELHI, Sept 23 (Reuters) - India signed a deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France on Friday for around $8.7 billion, the country's first major acquisition of combat planes in two decades and a boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plan to rebuild an ageing fleet.