New Delhi, May 28 – Contract negotiations between the governments of India and France for the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets, valued at over Rs 50,000 crore, are poised to commence on May 30 with the arrival of a high-level French delegation in New Delhi.
Officials from both nations will convene to initiate official negotiations in the fighter jet deal tailored for the Indian Navy, allowing the aircraft to operate from the force’s aircraft carriers. The French team, comprising representatives from their defence ministry and industry leaders such as Dassault Aviation and Thales, will join counterparts from the Indian Defence Ministry and Navy for discussions.
Government sources indicated an intent to conclude negotiations and sign the agreement by the end of the current financial year. France had already submitted its response to India’s tender for the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine jets in December, subsequently following up with a comprehensive submission of their proposal in New Delhi.
With India now gearing up for rigorous negotiations under the government-to-government contract, the Navy Chief has emphasized expediting the project timeline to facilitate the swift finalization and induction of the aircraft into the inventory.
