The deal between India and France for 36 Rafale combat jets could happen before the end of the year, the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief said yesterday.
"I hope it will happen by the yearend," Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said when asked when the deal for the jets, in fly-away condition, was expected to be inked.
"We expect it to happen quickly," he added.
The deal for the jets, manufactured by Dassault Aviation, was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Paris in April, but on the French side there is some frustration at the long-winded nature of the negotiations.
The IAF, which badly needs to replace its ageing fleet of Soviet MiG aircraft, was looking forward to the new planes, but the offsets clause that requires 50% of the deal estimated at 8mn to be pumped back to the Indian defence industry, is believed to be a stumbling block, as also the pricing. While India and France are still involved in the sticky negotiations, Egypt welcomed three Rafale jets into the country in July - five months after inking a deal for 24 planes.
French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited Cairo a few days after France delivered the jets. He was to visit India on August 31 during which the deal was expected to be inked.
However, he flew straight on to Europe after it became known that the negotiations were not likely to be concluded soon. The Indian defence ministry had, at the time, refused to confirm his visit.
According to French ambassador Francois Richier, the defence minister had to fly to Europe to attend an EU defence ministers meeting.
The progress in negotiations was reviewed by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the top acquisition body of the defence ministry, chaired by Minister Manohar Parrikar on September 1. Sources said the progress in talks between the two sides was "satisfactory".
"The negotiations are on the right track. The DAC was briefed about it, and they gave the ahead," an official said, not wanting to be identified.
29/11/15 Menafn-Gulf Times
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"I hope it will happen by the yearend," Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said when asked when the deal for the jets, in fly-away condition, was expected to be inked.
"We expect it to happen quickly," he added.
The deal for the jets, manufactured by Dassault Aviation, was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Paris in April, but on the French side there is some frustration at the long-winded nature of the negotiations.
The IAF, which badly needs to replace its ageing fleet of Soviet MiG aircraft, was looking forward to the new planes, but the offsets clause that requires 50% of the deal estimated at 8mn to be pumped back to the Indian defence industry, is believed to be a stumbling block, as also the pricing. While India and France are still involved in the sticky negotiations, Egypt welcomed three Rafale jets into the country in July - five months after inking a deal for 24 planes.
French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited Cairo a few days after France delivered the jets. He was to visit India on August 31 during which the deal was expected to be inked.
However, he flew straight on to Europe after it became known that the negotiations were not likely to be concluded soon. The Indian defence ministry had, at the time, refused to confirm his visit.
According to French ambassador Francois Richier, the defence minister had to fly to Europe to attend an EU defence ministers meeting.
The progress in negotiations was reviewed by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the top acquisition body of the defence ministry, chaired by Minister Manohar Parrikar on September 1. Sources said the progress in talks between the two sides was "satisfactory".
"The negotiations are on the right track. The DAC was briefed about it, and they gave the ahead," an official said, not wanting to be identified.
29/11/15 Menafn-Gulf Times
