INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: The government on Saturday announced the selection of the Navy Rafale to equip the Indian Navy with the latest generation fighter
aircraft.The 26 Naval variant of Rafale jets from France will eventually join the 36 Rafale already in service, the French aerospace company
Dassault Aviation has said
The decision comes after a successful trial campaign held in India, during which the Navy Rafale demonstrated that it fully met the Indian
India on Thursday cleared proposals to procure 26 Naval variant of Rafale jets from France and three French-designed Scorpene class
submarines on a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a two-day high-profile visit to Paris.The procurement proposals were approved by the
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the defence ministry said.It said the price and other terms of
purchase will be negotiated with the France government after taking into account all relevant aspects, including comparative procurement
price of similar aircraft by other countries.Further, the integration of Indian-designed equipment and establishment of a Maintenance,
Repair and Operations (MRO) Hub for various systems will be incorporated into the contract documents after due negotiations.The DAC also
approved the proposal to lay down guidelines for achieving the desired indigenous content in all categories of capital acquisition
cases.Four of the 26 Rafale-M jets, the naval variant of the deck-based platform, will be trainer aircraft, sources in the defence
establishment said.The delivery of the aircraft will begin within three years of signing of the contract, they said, adding it may take
close to one year to seal the final deal as detailed price negotiations are to be undertaken.(With agency inputs)
