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| Dassault Rafale Fighter (File Photo) |
NEW DELHI — A top Indian defense official negotiating a $12 billion deal to buy France's Rafale fighter jets has died of a heart attack, further complicating talks over the delayed contract, officials said Thursday.
India chose France's Dassault Aviation in January 2012 for exclusive negotiations for 126 aircraft, but successive deadlines to complete one of the world's biggest defense contracts have slipped by.
Chances of Dassault meeting a target to conclude the huge and complicated production-sharing agreement this year are dwindling, with elections looming in the first half of next year.
Arun Kumar Bal, a joint secretary in the defense ministry in charge of air acquisitions, died Wednesday from a heart attack at the age of 52, meaning a replacement will now have to be named.
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