Russian news and analysis website Pravda.Ru today has made a strange claim in its report that Indian authorities may cancel the contract that was signed with France in early September for the delivery of 126 Rafale fighters, should France refuse to supply Mistral vessels to Russia. The contract with India is evaluated from $20 to $22 billion.
First of all India still has not signed any agreement with France yet and most likely it will happen only next year .France has suspended “until further notice” the controversial delivery of a helicopter carrier to the Russian navy. President Francois Hollande blamed continuing unrest in eastern Ukraine, where Russia is accused of backing separatists in their fight against the government in Kiev.
It is highly unlikely that any dispute on delivery of Mistral-class amphibious assault ships to Russia will have any effect on MMRCA negotiation or India under pressure will terminate talks with France on purchase of 126 Rafale fighter jets . This is second time Russia media has linked dispute on delivery of Mistral-class ships with MMRCA in recent time , in directly warning France of larger hurting them in other military deals .
French online publication Breizh, international experts also had warned that France risked losing the reputation of a reliable arms supplier with its decision not to ship Mistral vessels to Russia and India under Russian Pressure might back off from MMRCA deal . Russia’s Ambassador to India, Alexander M. Kadakin recently slammed India’s decision to French Built Rafale and said that the Dassault Aviation-manufactured fighter aircraft could be shot down like a mosquito by a Chinese-manufactured or produced Sukhoi jet should there ever be a conflict in the neighborhood.
Russians might not have that level of cloud with India anymore to force India to drop plans to Purchase French Rafale fighter jets but it seems Frustrated Russia wants to hit back France and may be putting some level of pressure on India to dump MMRCA deal . Russian president Vladimir Putin will be visiting India next month and India and Russia are likely to take a call on Joint development of FGFA 5th generation fighter aircraft based on Russian Pak-Fa fighter jets .
India will dump MMRCA Deal with France : Russian Media | idrw.org