Hollande warns Rafale deal will 'take time'

[Who.Cares]

NEW DELHI: French president Francois Hollande has indicated that the nearly Rs 60,000-crore Rafale jets deal is unlikely to be signed during his current visit although it is on the "right track".

"The Rafale is a major project for India and France. It will pave the way for an unprecedented industrial and technological cooperation, including 'Make in India', for the next 40 years. Agreeing on the technicalities of this arrangement obviously takes time, but we are on the right track", Hollande told PTI in an interview ahead of his three-day visit beginning Sunday.

India and France are in negotiations for 36 Rafale fighter jets in fly away conditions since the announcement for the deal was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April during his visit to France.

However, the deal is yet to be sealed as both sides are still negotiating the price which is estimated to be about Rs 60,000 crore. A high-level team from France is in Delhi to carrying out last minute negotiations.

The invitation for Hollande to be the chief guest at Tuesday's Republic Day celebrations had raised hopes that the long drawn-out deal to buy the jets would finally be nailed down.

In his interview with PTI, Hollande said that "the Rafale is a major project for India and France" that would "pave the way for an unprecedented industrial and technological cooperation" for the next four decades.

Answering a question on Pathankot terror strike and that most of the terror attacks in India emanate from Pakistan, Hollande said, "France strongly condemned the attack on Pathankot. India is fully justified to ask for justice against perpetrators."

"India and France are confronted with similar threats: we are attacked by murderers who pretend to act on religious basis. Their real objective is widespread hate. They want to undermine our democratic values and our way of life. India and France are united in their determination to act together against terrorism", the French President said in a written interview.

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[shah1398]

This was the best chance for India to get the deal and they were smart enough to invite the French President to India's Republic Day parade event as Chief guest as a ploy to hasten the deal and get it inked at negotiated price of India's choice during his this visit. India played smart but seems Mr. Hollande played smarter. Now the deal might take more time than anticipated and France knows India now in any case has to go for Rafale. Its kinda win win situation for France.

Answering a question on Pathankot terror strike and that most of the terror attacks in India emanate from Pakistan, Hollande said,

Uff yay roz ka rona dhona...

"France strongly condemned the attack on Pathankot. India is fully justified to ask for justice against perpetrators."

The actual question was Pakistan specific but Mr Hollande has again played smart.

 

[Cornered Tiger]

France knows India's Limitations, will try to compel them to higher price.

 

[Abingdonboy]

In his interview with PTI, Hollande said that "the Rafale is a major project for India and France" that would "pave the way for an unprecedented industrial and technological cooperation" for the next four decades.

36/54 off the shelf jets are going to "pave the way for an unprecedented industrial and technological cooperation for the next four decades"?

@PARIKRAMA @anant_s @Koovie @Echo_419

The writing is on the wall, there's something big brewing here....

 

[sathya]

36/54 off the shelf jets are going to "pave the way for an unprecedented industrial and technological cooperation for the next four decades"?

@PARIKRAMA @anant_s @Koovie @Echo_419

The writing is on the wall, there's something big brewing here....

Yes it was shocking to read about 4 decades cooperation
Haggling is about MII ?

 

[Koovie]

I decided (For the sake of my real life) to stop paying any attention to this drama until I see the first pic of an IAF Rafale in the production line

 

[Nilgiri]

French are simply asking too much for this bird (250 million a piece WTF...or is that combined total lifecycle cost being quoted?)....India has to negotiate it way down if its 250 million for airframe, even with weapons and any level of offset is simply too much....we can get nearly 5 Mig 35 (With Zhuk AESA + weapons etc) for that.

If French do not budge, scrap the whole thing (MMRCA) and start buying up Mirage 2000s, Mig 29 family etc..from whichever airforces/countries are willing........along with Tejas when it comes into production.... to tide over the number disparity of the IAF for the time being till the next generation is finished developing and can be acquired en masse.

Another example of a headache caused by the useless UPA defence policy and knuckle dragging.

I decided (For the sake of my real life) to stop paying any attention to this drama until I see the first pic of an IAF Rafale in the production line

A good policy to have.

 

[cirr]

Is it true that the 36 Rafales will be handed over to the IAF over 7 years？

If true，what is it that takes France，or rather India，so long to deliver and receive such a small number of planes？

 

[Dash]

Is it true that the 36 Rafales will be handed over to the IAF over 7 years？

If true，what is it that takes France，or rather India，so long to deliver and receive such a small number of planes？

From where did you get this? We all know for a fact that Dassult has started all work related to the delivery of Rafale in 2015 and they will use their existing lines for the delivery meaning, the fighters to be delivered to French AF will be diverted to meet export order. It will be much faster say 5-6 yrs even if they deliver an abysmal rate of 6 ACs an year.

I decided (For the sake of my real life) to stop paying any attention to this drama until I see the first pic of an IAF Rafale in the production line

Only the biggest fan can do this

 

[The BrOkEn HeArT]

I don't know when this Refale ghost will leave us. Krna hai to kro , yaa fir chhod do. Go for other options.

 

[Nilgiri]

Is it true that the 36 Rafales will be handed over to the IAF over 7 years？

Nope its not true.