Defense: India-France to begin talks from May 30 for a fresh Rs.50k-cr Rafal-M deal
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Negotiations between India and France for a fresh deal worth Rs. 50,000 crore for the supply of 26 Rafale-M aircraft to the Indian Navy will begin on March 30, the media reported on Tuesday.
France had submitted its response to India’s tender for buying 26 Rafale Marine jets for the Indian Navy’s two aircraft carriers—INS Vikarant and INS Vikramaditya—in December 2023.
In a significant development, the media reported, contract negotiations between India and France will begin on May 30 with the arrival of a high-level French team.
The French side would meet with Indian Defence Ministry counterparts to begin official negotiations in the fighter jet deal for the Indian Navy under which aircraft would be operated from both aircraft carriers, defence industry officials told a news outlet.
The French team will include officials from their defense ministry and industry including original equipment manufacturers Dassault Aviation and Thales.
The Indian side would include members from the Defence Acquisition Wing and the Indian Navy to try to complete negotiations with France and sign the agreement by the end of this financial year (FY25).
India carried out a detailed study of the French bid for the Indian deal including the commercial offer or price for the aircraft, along with other details of the contract, they said. India will now go in for tough negotiations in the deal with French government officials, as it is a government-to-government contract.
The Navy Chief has directed his team to ensure that the timeframe required for the project is squeezed significantly to ensure early finalization and induction of the planes in the inventory.
