India agrees price for UK jets

The Indian government says it has agreed a price for the purchase of 66 Hawk trainer jets from Britain in a controversial deal that's believed to be worth $1.5b.

A defence ministry official confirmed to the BBC that a price-negotiating committee has now completed its work and that the matter will soon go before a cabinet committee for final approval.

There had been suggestions that India was considering buying a less costly Czech-built plane.

The BBC correspondent in Delhi says if the sale does go ahead it's likely to be highly controversial within Britain.

Official policy is not to sell arms to countries that might use them against their neighbours, and several members of parliament have said there should be no sales to either India or Pakistan given the tension between the two countries.

But Delhi badly needs jet fighter aircraft to reduce the high rate of flying accidents in its air force.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service