New Delhi: Indian Air Force Chief has said conclusion of a $22 billion fighter jet deal with French company Dassault Aviation was imminent after missed deadlines and delays.
Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha told an Indian newspaper that the military could not afford any more hold ups of the 2012 deal to supply 126 French-made Rafale fighters.
Raha said a deadline for finalisation of the deal had not been set but added "it`s going to happen soon."
He also appeared to throw cold water on attempts to re-enter the race for the giant contract by a European consortium that makes the Eurofighter, a rival to the Rafale.
"It will not be appropriate to make any changes in the process," he said in an interview with an English daily published on Wednesday.
"The current government has set the pace of work and things are moving fast enough on the fighter deal."
The daily quoted a Defence Ministry official as saying "Rafale has run through the finish line."
"It`s too late in the day to parachute into the race. The door is closed," the unnamed official said.
03/09/14 AFP/ZeeNews
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Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha told an Indian newspaper that the military could not afford any more hold ups of the 2012 deal to supply 126 French-made Rafale fighters.
Raha said a deadline for finalisation of the deal had not been set but added "it`s going to happen soon."
He also appeared to throw cold water on attempts to re-enter the race for the giant contract by a European consortium that makes the Eurofighter, a rival to the Rafale.
"It will not be appropriate to make any changes in the process," he said in an interview with an English daily published on Wednesday.
"The current government has set the pace of work and things are moving fast enough on the fighter deal."
The daily quoted a Defence Ministry official as saying "Rafale has run through the finish line."
"It`s too late in the day to parachute into the race. The door is closed," the unnamed official said.
03/09/14 AFP/ZeeNews
