Dassault Aviation is ready to sign a contract with India at any moment, but the ball is in India's court, chief executive Eric Trappier told French daily Les Echos in an interview published on Tuesday.
The government is looking at concluding the much-hyped multi billion Euro Rafale deal next month, more than a year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi...
With the French Defence Minister having made his government’s best offer, price negotiations with France for 36 Rafale fighters are in their end stages. Earlier this month, the Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Air Chief
Days before the letter was sent, the French side had rejected an Indian request for a sovereign guarantee or a bank guarantee for the deal, and instead offered to provide a “comfort letter” from their prime minister.
The law ministry has also opposed accepting Geneva as the arbitration destination in the event of any dispute, wanting it to be replaced by Delhi, something that the French side has opposed.
Negotiations on the terms and conditions of the supply of 36 `Rafale’ fighter aircraft, including those related to total cost, actual delivery timelines and guarantee period, have not been concluded.
The $8.8-billion Rafale deal has not yet been finalised, but is at an ‘advanced stage’, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said on Thursday, adding that “the intention was to close it quite soon”.
The government may have not made a final announcement on the Rafale deal yet but for the BJP it has been "finalised" and the Modi government has saved over Rs 21,000 in the "re-negotiation" with the French government.
A high-level team from France is expected to arrive here next month to firm up the order for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft by India as both countries have managed to narrow down their differences over pricing.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today admitted the pace of negotiation with France for 36 Rafale jets was "not enough" but hoped it will be concluded "very soon"...
Showing no signs of relenting, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said he is a "tough negotiator" and wants the "best price" for Rafale fighter jets from France.
The French have "marginally" reduced the price of Rafale combat planes but India is seeking more and the multi-billion dollar deal could take at least another six weeks to be finalised, government sources said today.
