France Submits Final Price for India’s Rafale Marine Jet Deal
France has presented its final price offer for 26 Rafale Marine Jets to India, ahead of Indian NSA Ajit Doval’s visit. The deal, aimed at bolstering India’s naval strike capability, includes price cuts and integration of indigenous systems. Final discussions are set for the upcoming India-France Strategic Dialogue in Paris.
Devdiscourse News Desk | Updated: 29-09-2024 19:14 IST | Created: 29-09-2024 19:14 IST
Rafale Marine Jet (File photo/ANI). Image Credit: ANI
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France has submitted its final price offer to India for the 26 Rafale Marine Jet deal, just ahead of the scheduled visit by Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to the country.
Defence sources informed ANI that the French side has made the best and final price offer to Indian authorities after rigorous negotiations, resulting in a considerable price reduction. India and France are negotiating the acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine jets, which are intended for deployment on the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and various bases.
Negotiations also took place last week when a French delegation visited the Indian capital to finalize discussions. This deal is expected to be a key agenda item during the India-France Strategic Dialogue, where the Indian NSA is scheduled to meet French officials starting tomorrow in Paris.
The deal is crucial for the Indian Navy’s efforts to enhance its maritime strike capability. India has also approved deviations in the letter of request, which serves as a tender equivalent in government-to-government deals. This includes integrating the indigenous Uttam radar into the jets for the Indian Navy.
Sources stated that integrating the indigenous radar would take around eight years and involve significant costs to the French side. Additionally, India has requested the integration of indigenous weapons, such as the Astra beyond visual range missiles and Rudram anti-radiation missiles, on the aircraft.
The price of the deal is based on agreed-upon inflation rates and the previous deal for 36 Rafale fighter aircraft acquired for the Indian Air Force. Some of the Air Force’s requirements have also been incorporated into the naval deal, including approximately 40 drop tanks and a few workstations for the jets.
India is also set to receive a larger count of long-range air-to-air Meteor missiles and anti-ship weaponry as part of this project, which is expected to be concluded before the end of this financial year. (ANI)
(With inputs from agencies.)