By Ankit Panda
India and France are nearing the conclusion of a $15 billion sale of the Dassault Rafale multi-role fighter.
Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar hosted his French counterpart in New Delhi earlier this week. The two ministers agreed to put the issue of concluding a deal on India’s acquisition of 126 French Rafale fighter jets on a “fast track.” The deal is expected to cost India upwards of $15 billion and will fulfill India’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) contract which was awarded to France’s Dassault Aviation for the Rafale fighter in 2011 over several other bidders. Parrikar and French Defense Minister Yves Le Drian agreed to accelerate negotiations after over two years of delays. Le Drian described his meeting with Parrikar as “positive.”
“All issues related to defense were discussed, including the Rafale,” Indian defense ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar said. “Both sides decided to adopt a fast-track approach wherever there are differences.” “We can say this morning that the negotiations are on the cusp of conclusion,” a French official anonymously told the Associated Press. Additionally, an Indian defense official told The Indian Express that “The two delegations met and talks were held in a cordial manner. Both the sides agreed to take forward the partnership between the two countries that was envisaged in 1998. All the issues related to defence cooperation were discussed.”
The meeting between Parrikar and Le Drian puts to rest rumors that the MMRCA contract could be scrapped altogether given a series of disagreements and delays. One of the main issues holding back the deal was the issue of joint development and technology transfer. The Indian side had insisted on having Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) manufacture a portion of the jets as part of the contract. This would require a formal transfer of technology and licensing which the French side was reluctant to agree to initially. According to reports in the Indian press following the meeting between the two defense ministers, India’s HAL will manufacture 108 of the 126 Rafale jets with the remaining 18 jets being manufactured in France.
Read the full story at The Diplomat