02 December 2014

News Story: India, France Agree to Finalize Rafale Deal by Spring


By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI 

NEW DELHI — India will fast-track the finalization of the US $12 billion plan to purchase 126 Dassault Rafale jets, according to a senior Indian Defense Ministry official, almost three years after India made Dassault its preferred bidder.

The news follows Monday evening talks between Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his visiting French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian.

The Indian MoD official refused to give details on how the two sides will resolve differences holding back the finalization of the negotiations in the run up to the inking of the contract. He did say that the two defense ministers agreed that all issues that are irritants will be sorted out by the end of this year so the deal can be finalized by the end of the financial year ending March 31.

Read the full story at DefenseNews