New Delhi: India has initiated a step ahead to purchase 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets by issuing a request to the French authorities for this necessary deal. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, had already accepted proposals to acquire 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets and three Scorpene diesel-electric submarines for the Indian Navy.
The ministry mentioned that DAC granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for procurement of 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets together with related ancillary gear, weapons, simulator, spares, documentation, crew coaching and logistic help for the Indian Navy from the French authorities by an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA).
The worth and different phrases of buy will probably be negotiated with the French authorities after taking into consideration all related elements, together with comparative procurement worth of comparable plane by different nations, it added.
Further, the mixing of Indian-designed gear and institution of Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) Hub for varied methods will probably be integrated into the contract paperwork in due negotiations. Now an in depth letter of request (LoR) has been issued by the Indian defence ministry to the French Directorate General of Armaments for the proposed deal.
It will embrace 22 single-seat jets and 4 twin-seat trainers, together with weapons, simulator, spares, crew coaching and logistics help, sources mentioned. According to the defence consultants, France ought to reply with its provide, pricing and different particulars in a few months.
Once the contract is inked after the fee negotiations and the Cabinet Committee on Security’s ultimate nod, deliveries will start in three years. The LoR for the government-to-government deal, which entails off-the-shelf procurement of the Dassault Aviation-manufactured jets, comes quickly after defence minister Rajnath Singh visited France on 10, October.
As per the defence consultants, there’s an pressing requirement for plane and submarines, because the Indian Navy has been dealing with shortages and must shore up its necessities conserving in thoughts safety challenges, particularly within the Indian Ocean area.
Aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and Vikrant have been working the MiG-29s and want the Rafales for operations on each carriers. The offers are estimated to be value 1000’s of crore however the ultimate value will solely be clear solely after the contract negotiations are accomplished, a supply added. The nation is prone to search some concession within the worth and may insist on a higher deal with ‘Make In India’ content material, an official mentioned.
