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New Delhi: India’s quest for buying 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for its naval plane carriers has moved a step nearer, because the French authorities has submitted its formal response to India’s tender, sources within the Defence Ministry stated. The response consists of the terms-conditions and pricing of the deal, which is estimated to be round Rs 50,000 crore, information company IANS quoting defence sources stated. The French bid was delivered in New Delhi by a staff of French authorities officers who take care of army gross sales to different nations. The Indian Navy wants the Rafale Marine jets to function on its two plane carriers – INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant – which at the moment use the MiG-29s.
The Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, had earlier permitted the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine jets together with associated gear, weapons, simulator, spares, documentation, crew coaching and logistic assist from the French authorities by an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA).
The Defence Ministry stated that the worth and different phrases of buy will likely be negotiated with the French authorities after contemplating all related components, such because the comparative procurement value of comparable plane by different nations.
The contract can even embrace the mixing of Indian designed equipments and the institution of a Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) hub for varied techniques.
The Indian Defence Ministry had additionally issued an in depth letter of request (LoR) to the French Directorate General of Armaments for the proposed deal. The LoR specified that the deal would comprise 22 single-seat jets and 4 twin-seat trainers, together with weapons, simulator, spares, crew coaching and logistics assist, sources stated.
Defence specialists stated that France has now responded with its supply, pricing and different particulars. The contract will likely be signed after the price negotiations and the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security. The deliveries will begin in three years.
Defence specialists additionally stated that there’s an pressing want for plane and submarines, because the Indian Navy has been going through shortages and must improve its capabilities in view of the safety challenges, particularly within the Indian Ocean area. India is more likely to search some low cost within the value and might also demand extra ‘Make In India’ content material within the deal,
