Paris: On the eve of the Paris air show at Le Bourget, France is exuding a quiet confidence that the contract for the sale of 126 Rafale fighters will be concluded before the year-end. The opening of the air show this year coincides with annual Indo-French Foreign Office Consultations when India’s Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai will meet his French counterpart, Pierre Sellal in Paris on Monday.
The CEO of Dassault Aviation Eric Trappier told journalists in Paris in a pre-air show interview that despite talks with the Indians being “pretty hard nosed” he expected the sale of 126 Rafale fighters to India to go through before the end of this year. “We would like talks to conclude as soon as possible. If we listen to our Indian friends and if we hear ourselves, we would like to finish in 2013. Finish means signing a contract,” Dassault’s new CEO who took the reins early this year said.
Mr. Trappier brushed aside reports of difficult negotiations saying talks were “good humoured”. He said there had “never been obstacles” and discussions now closely focused on Indian license production, assemblage and component manufacture for 126 fighters. India has an option for another 63 aircraft, which is currently under discussion.
17/06/13 Vaiju Naravane/The Hindu
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The CEO of Dassault Aviation Eric Trappier told journalists in Paris in a pre-air show interview that despite talks with the Indians being “pretty hard nosed” he expected the sale of 126 Rafale fighters to India to go through before the end of this year. “We would like talks to conclude as soon as possible. If we listen to our Indian friends and if we hear ourselves, we would like to finish in 2013. Finish means signing a contract,” Dassault’s new CEO who took the reins early this year said.
Mr. Trappier brushed aside reports of difficult negotiations saying talks were “good humoured”. He said there had “never been obstacles” and discussions now closely focused on Indian license production, assemblage and component manufacture for 126 fighters. India has an option for another 63 aircraft, which is currently under discussion.
17/06/13 Vaiju Naravane/The Hindu
