Mumbai: Thirty Rafale fighter jets manufactured by French firm Dassault Aviation have been delivered to India so far and the remaining six will be handed over by April 2022 as part of an inter-governmental agreement signed five years ago, Ambassador of France Emmanuel Lenain said on Thursday.
He said it is a matter of pride for France that despite the COVID-19 pandemic which forced factories to close down for weeks, it was able to deliver the aircraft on time.
"In France, teams have been working extra shifts. They have been working nights and weekends sometimes to be able to fulfil the commitment. That is what trust is about."
"As of today, 29 (jets) have been ferried to India and 30 have been delivered to India. We are fully on time and we are going to reach the target of having all 36 delivered by April of next year," Lenain said.
The envoy said India and France have been cooperating for decades in the field of defence.
Fighter jets are first handed over to the Indian Air Force in France and they are later flown to India.
The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29 last year.
In 2016, India and France signed an inter-governmental agreement under which Paris is to provide 36 Rafale fighter jets to New Delhi.
The Rs 58,000-crore deal invited criticism from the opposition, particularly the Congress which has alleged financial irregularities while procuring the fighter jets.
18/11/21 PTI/New Indian Express
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