India close to sealing $20 billion Rafale deal with France

[SR-91]

NEW DELHI: Visiting French foreign minister Laurent Fabius on Monday said he was "very confident" of the outcome of his talks with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj here on the $20 billion deal for the Rafale combat aircraft.

Fabius, the first European minister to touch base with the new Indian government, will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday and defence minister Arun Jaitley later on Monday.

Addressing a news conference after talks with Sushma Swaraj, Fabius said both sides discussed the situation in violence-hit Iraq.

To a question on status of negotiations on the medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal to acquire 126 of the French fighter jets, the French minister said the "developments were very positive" and he was "very confident of the final outcome".

Fabius said France had "no particular concerns" about the Indian civil nuclear liability law.

He said France was keen to push trade with India to take it beyond the $18 billion at present and also push bilateral investment.

"Trust and partnership" he said were two words signifying the bilateral relations between India and France.

French foreign minister Laurent Fabius and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. (PTI photo)

During his talks with Modi, the French foreign minister would also be extending an invite from President Francois Hollande to the Indian prime minister to visit France.

The prime minister's official visit to France could be in September, when Modi visits New York for the UN general assembly, Fabius said.

Fabius said France has "high ambition of the partnership" from the new Indian government.

To push tourism between the two countries, from Jan 3, 2015, France will be putting in place a new visa issuing procedure that will ensure visa in less than two days.

"This is an important step to strengthen tourism and exchanges between people," said Fabius, who is also looking after the tourism and trade portfolio.

He also said his visit has come at a time when the India's PSLV rocket launched a French satellite into space from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

French foreign minister Laurent Fabius with defence and finance minister Arun Jailtey. (PTI photo)

India close to sealing $20 billion Rafale deal with France - The Times of India

 

[$@rJen]

I hope everything goes well... we need those babes soon , Techs will be used for future Indian fighters

And hell with the recent negative reports on Rafale deal.

 

[nik141991]

babes soon

kya erada hai

 

[$@rJen]

kya erada hai

means?? Sorry... south Indian

 

[nik141991]

means?? Sorry... south Indian

what's ur intention

 

[Contrarian]

I do not agree with this decision.

$20 billion is a $hit ton of money. I think the deal must be scrapped and all money funneled to FGFA and domestic programs.

We seem to be one of the few nations in the world who are planning to induct 4th generation jets when the world is planning to induct 5th generation jets.

Note: UK, France, etc are not planning now to buy the Typhoon/Rafale, they inducted it almost a decade ago and are only continuing those ordered earlier!

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Wasn't the MMRCA supposed to be to help India plug the gaps in their air force in 2001? Since at that time, India only had 39.5 squadrons compared to the needed 45?

But today in 2014, India now only has 30 squadrons of combat aircraft?

And it will still take many more years for the delivery of the Rafale to even start, by that time 5th generation fighters will be the main focus. India should build more indigenous combat aircraft to increase the numbers, which means the money can be re-invested into domestic companies rather than foreign ones.

 

[Koovie]

I do not agree with this decision.

$20 billion is a $hit ton of money. I think the deal must be scrapped and all money funneled to FGFA and domestic programs.

We seem to be one of the few nations in the world who are planning to induct 4th generation jets when the world is planning to induct 5th generation jets.

Note: UK, France, etc are not planning now to buy the Typhoon/Rafale, they inducted it almost a decade ago and are only continuing those ordered earlier!

The deal is not only about the planes, its also about critical technology and know how.... which is not only related to the Rafales but also to production and management.... fields in which we are seriously lacking hard.

 

[nik141991]

I do not agree with this decision.

$20 billion is a $hit ton of money. I think the deal must be scrapped and all money funneled to FGFA and domestic programs.

We seem to be one of the few nations in the world who are planning to induct 4th generation jets when the world is planning to induct 5th generation jets.

Note: UK, France, etc are not planning now to buy the Typhoon/Rafale, they inducted it almost a decade ago and are only continuing those ordered earlier!

i was thinking the same, that's awful lot of money totally agree with u, these planners have ruined military, saloo ki tareekh hi khatam nahi hoti

 

[$@rJen]

what's ur intention

Just one time let me touch her then i'll be like

 

[Contrarian]

The deal is not only about the planes, its also about critical technology and know how.... which is not only related to the Rafales but also to production and management.... fields in which we are seriously lacking hard.

What is the point of that critical technology if we cannot utilize it.
PSU's are simply not able to deliver even when they have the technology.

If the tech and production were going to a private company, I could have understood that the private Indian company would be aggressive and take the opportunity, absorb and then be able to deliver new things to India. That is not going to happen with HAL, it is too slow, its production rate is ridiculously too low for any product it is given or has made.

And at the end of the day most of the ToT we acquire will be wasted and become obsolete and we will acquire new ToT after 2 decades .

 

[$@rJen]

I do not agree with this decision.

$20 billion is a $hit ton of money. I think the deal must be scrapped and all money funneled to FGFA and domestic programs.

We seem to be one of the few nations in the world who are planning to induct 4th generation jets when the world is planning to induct 5th generation jets.

Note: UK, France, etc are not planning now to buy the Typhoon/Rafale, they inducted it almost a decade ago and are only continuing those ordered earlier!

Its with ToT man, and the weapon package, training + ect...... we also inducting 5th gen but it would be beyond 2020 and No one is keeping their Air force entirely with 5th gen... This deal is mainly for the falling of IAF's squadron and Technology which would be used in future Indian Jets...

 

[Contrarian]

Its with ToT man, and the weapon package, training + ect...... we also inducting 5th gen but it would be beyond 2020 and No one is keeping their Air force entirely with 5th gen... This deal is mainly for the falling of IAF's squadron and Technology which would be used in future Indian Jets...

Read my last comment.

 

[SAMEET]

just waste of money why to pay for rafale jet ?

 

[$@rJen]

What is the point of that critical technology if we cannot utilize it.
PSU's are simply not able to deliver even when they have the technology.

If the tech and production were going to a private company, I could have understood that the private Indian company would be aggressive and take the opportunity, absorb and then be able to deliver new things to India. That is not going to happen with HAL, it is too slow, its production rate is ridiculously too low for any product it is given or has made.

And at the end of the day most of the ToT we acquire will be wasted and become obsolete and we will acquire new ToT after 2 decades .

I think the problem with the lack of production facility, this will be fixed with new Production facilities which are being build for rafale and LCA.. I don't think so there's any problem with handling the tech.. we need more production facilities that's t