I think Modi uses these bones to keep the big dogs happy!! In international diplomacy, goodwill/favors are bought and sold!! The 36 Rafale deal with France also seemed like a way to get France's attention on India's concerns on terror etc.ECM and EO pod will be standard fit for all LUH anyway.
This is the billion dollar question, seems like this is a bone being thrown to the Russians for god knows what reason.
(One might argue if Modi hadn't France would have seen India's way anyways after the Paris attack - but no one's a clairvoyant !!!)