France 's industry has been awarded frontrunner status to supply 126 fighter jets to India . Mr Sarkozy faces an election in May and the declining strength of French industry is expected to be a crucial campaign battleground , with the incumbent trailing his socialist rival in opinion polls . Hotly contested $ 100 million race seen as a boost to French industrial prestige .
France 's industry has been awarded frontrunner status to supply 126 fighter jets to India . Hotly contested $ 100 million race seen as a boost to French industrial prestige .