He told a cabinet meeting that a document covering the purchase would be initialed later in the day.

He said that for economic reasons, notably the level of interest rates, he did not wait for a parliamentary vote on a budget proposal providing for the acquisition of the aircraft.

The defense ministry has put the cost of the purchase at 1.959 billion euros (2.26 billion dollars).

The planes are manufactured by the European aeronautic and defense company

WAR.WIRE