France and India are moving closer in military dealings. France has sent its Defense Minister to India to push for the sale of 10 Mirage-2000Hs to replace those lost in accidents. (India still has 42 Mirage-2000Hs.) The French are offering to sell Mirage-2000D attack planes as well, and want India to buy Alphajet instead of the British Hawk. The Indian Air Force plans to build a new base in Rajasthan to improve security on the border with Pakistan. The selected site is at Phalodi, about 750km west of New Delhi; the base will be finished by 2004.-Stephen V Cole