What's new

India, France agree to resolve issues; to fast-rack Rafale deal

SR-91

FULL MEMBER
Aug 8, 2011
1,778
2
2,957
Country
India
Location
United States
New Delhi: India and France have agreed to iron out contentious issues like pricing and a guarantee clause for French firm Dassault to fast-track the estimated USD 15 billion deal for 126 Rafale fighter jets.


The issue came up for discussion during the delegation- level talks last evening between Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian.

"The talks were held in a cordial atmosphere. All issues related to India-French defence cooperation were discussed," Defence Ministry Spokesman Sitanshu Kar said today.

Asked about the Rafale deal, he said both sides agreed there were matters on which differences still exist between the two sides and that this would be resolved in a "fast-tracked manner".

India had in 2012 selected the Rafale jet but the final negotiations are still continuing between the Defence Ministry and Dassault Aviation.

The deal with India is a big one for the Rafale fighter as it will be the first mega export order for the aircraft.

Though the deal was first valued at about USD 10 billion in 2007 when the Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued, the figure has shot up to over USD 15 billion, sources said.

Differences have cropped up over various issues from pricing to work-sharing.

As per the RFP, the first 18 jets are to be imported and the rest manufactured under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).

According to Defence sources, Dassault was reluctant to stand guarantee for the 108 fighters to be built by HAL as far as liquidity damages and timelines for production was concerned.

This, the sources say, is the critical issue that is delaying the inking of the deal.

The Defence Ministry is of the view that the guarantee clause was part of the Air Staff Qualitative Requirements (ASQR) under the RFP.

Dassault had agreed to the ASQR and hence was selected for the deal, sources maintained.

"How can the ASQR be relaxed? This is not allowed under the Defence Procurement Procedure, 2013," the sources said. This is the second time that France has raised the issue
of Rafale with the NDA government since May.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius had met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and then Defence Minister Arun Jaitley in June and had pushed for early implementation of the Rafale deal.

Fabius had said France hopes that with the new government, which was keen on efficiency, the implementation of the decision will be swift and had expressed confidence of a "positive outcome" to the ongoing negotiations in the deal.

Rafale, which would replace India's Russian-made fleet of MiG-21 and MiG-27 planes, had stood over combat aircraft manufactured by rivals like Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

At present, India has 34 fighter jet squadrons (16-18 planes in each) against the projected need of 45 squadrons. The French Defence Minister also presented Parrikar with two photographs of Indian soldiers in World War 1.

Both the leaders also agreed that Indo-French Strategic Partnership of 1998 will be taken forward.

India, France agree to resolve issues; to fast-rack Rafale deal | Zee News
 
After what they did with the Russian deal, Indians shouldnt trust the lying French. Their word is no good.
 
Good for us, we are going to go straight to 5th Gen, meanwhile 4th Gen F16's and JF17 are more than a match.
 
:rofl::rofl::rofl::omghaha::D

janab, aj subah nashtey me kon ghaas khayi thi?

:rofl:

LoL - You will never understand the close relationship between us and the PRC, we were even shown the J20, and have been kept in the loop of the FC31 project from the start.
 
Good for us, we are going to go straight to 5th Gen, meanwhile 4th Gen F16's and JF17 are more than a match.

Well I'd say you are wrong on both counts. No confirmed news the PAF is ordering 5th gen (don't forget the IAF has actually signed a contract for 5th gen planes that will be delivered by the early stages of the next decade) and the Rafale will be able to give the Chinese J-XX series a run for their money let alone the F-16s and JF-17s.

After what they did with the Russian deal, Indians shouldnt trust the lying French. Their word is no good.

Completely different situation and can't be compared with this deal.
 
Well I'd say you are wrong on both counts. No confirmed news the PAF is ordering 5th gen (don't forget the IAF has actually signed a contract for 5th gen planes that will be delivered by the early stages of the next decade) and the Rafale will be able to give the Chinese J-XX series a run for their money let alone the F-16s and JF-17s.



Completely different situation and can't be compared with this deal.

Judging how we get the job done, on budget and on time, and the Chinese willingness to keep "parity" in SA, I would not be as confident as you.
 
Judging how we get the job done, on budget and on time, and the Chinese willingness to keep "parity" in SA, I would not be as confident as you.
Even if you get them it wouldn't change anything really. There would be no parity in either quantity or quality between the two AFs. As I've said before, the Chinese "5th gen" planes have A LOT to prove if they are to be considered "true" 5th gen/VLO machines and there is little reason to believe the Chinese have somehow leap-frogged the West in this regard so I wouldn't be as confident as you. The IAF will have 2 types of plane who can give the J-31 a good fight (MKI and Rafale) and one who will be convincingly superior (FGFA).
 
Even if you get them it wouldn't change anything really. There would be no parity in either quantity or quality between the two AFs. As I've said before, the Chinese "5th gen" planes have A LOT to prove if they are to be considered "true" 5th gen/VLO machines and there is little reason to believe the Chinese have somehow leap-frogged the West in this regard so I wouldn't be as confident as you. The IAF will have 2 types of plane who can give the J-31 a good fight (MKI and Rafale) and one who will be convincingly superior (FGFA).

The indian security deep state is very panicked, they are literally crying to Russia, for bringing their stealth plane on line.
 
The indian security deep state is very panicked, they are literally crying to Russia, for bringing their stealth plane on line.
What exactly is the "Indian deep state"? And what India is doing is not "crying" but vocalizing very real concerns they have with the status of a project they are sinking tens of billions into. Let's not engage in hyperbole and sensationalism.
 
What exactly is the "Indian deep state"? And what India is doing is not "crying" but vocalizing very real concerns they have with the status of a project they are sinking tens of billions into. Let's not engage in hyperbole and sensationalism.

Yes, but it comes on the back of rapid development of 2 5th Gen Fighter projects, and the Russians are not willing to share in the core technology.
 
Yes, but it comes on the back of rapid development of 2 5th Gen Fighter projects, and the Russians are not willing to share in the core technology.
This is just part of the negotiations stage, there's no point in jumping to conclusions right now. And the 2 Chinese "5th gen" fighters are a LONG way from operational service no matter what anybody would have you believe.
 
This is just part of the negotiations stage, there's no point in jumping to conclusions right now. And the 2 Chinese "5th gen" fighters are a LONG way from operational service no matter what anybody would have you believe.

From what I have heard the Russians are being "cute", they are making excuses - they will not allow indian access to the core technology, that is their final offer.
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 2, Members: 0, Guests: 2)


Back
Top Bottom