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Made in India military weapons and support systems

No for the Nuclear Reactors from US, more likely that the French ones would get some further momentum.
Sir, I have heard this is a certainty and I have a lot of trust in this source of mine.

36 Rafales are almost a done deal - it is the order expansion which interests me with regards to who among the Indian corporates would be roped in. I would personally prefer Tata, RIL or L&T.
I would prefer TATA or ,even better, L&T to form the JV with Dassualt for the Rafale in India but it looks like it will be RIL :(
 
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Sir, I have heard this is a certainty and I have a lot of trust in this source of mine.

Your source can be wrong. I have too heard rumblings about it, and since there is the Toshiba angle, I dug further and was stonewalled. Now I am not saying that 100% it wont go through - but what I found out is that there are many big teething issues and Westinghouse is asking for some assurances which GoI cannot provide in the current political scenario.

Now things can change but I am not very optimistic. Areva deal is more likely is all I am saying
 
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From what I am hearing, 2016 is being lined up to be a BIG year for "Make in India", a directive that has gone out to all ministries is that MII is not to be some long term policy with nothing to show for it in the the future. As such, there will be a lot of deals signed under MII next year including some truly historic ones. Headlines being predicted for at the first 6 months of 2016 for are something big on the Rafale , infrastrucutre megaprojects and American nuclear power projects in India.


Now if those idiot law makers can just get GST and LAB passed...

I can tell you what DM MP has planned via his innovative and visionary inputs in DPP 2016.. See here below excerpts from a ET article
  1. While the current outstanding value of offsets - pegged at $16 billion to be executed till 2028- shall be executed under older rules, all future programmes will be governed by a new policy set to be announced in January 2016.
  2. The defence ministry has firmed up its futuristic offset policy to promote 'Make in India', technology transfer and skill development - the key focus areas of the government.
  3. In the past, foreign companies winning major Indian military contracts were mandated to spend at least 30 per cent of the contract value.
  4. This would give the foreign players flexibility to choose any area to invest in, leaving little control on the kind of technology or capability transfer.
  5. With the new rules, set to be part of the Defence Procurement Policy 2016, the defence ministry and the armed forces buying the equipment will specify what they want as offsets for a particular deal.
  6. Three options will be available for the government under the new policy.
    1. One would be a directed offsets plan in which the foreign vendor will be mandated to spend its 30 per cent investment share in a particular Make in India plan - to set up a defined manufacturing facility in India, be it a aircraft production line or a ballistic testing facility.
    2. The second option would be transfer of technology - with a committee of the armed forces and defence ministry deciding what technology is needed. In this case, DRDO would be the custodian of the technology but the production agency - the private sector will be preferred - would be fully involved from the beginning.
    3. The third option is for skill development - creation of R&D facilities, innovation centers, training institutions and labs - to raise a new generation of skilled workers for the defence and aerospace sector.
  7. The stress on skill development makes perfect sense. Better skills would boost innovation and give rise to a spirit of enterprise.
  8. In tandem, we need a better institutional setup for tech revamp in the defence sector and beyond.
  9. We need close interaction between DRDO, industry and academe, and not just for technology and skill absorption.

I am highlighting two special point again for reference and to showcase what we have always said before

With the new rules, set to be part of the Defence Procurement Policy 2016, the defence ministry and the armed forces buying the equipment will specify what they want as offsets for a particular deal.

One would be a directed offsets plan in which the foreign vendor will be mandated to spend its 30 per cent investment share in a particular Make in India plan - to set up a defined manufacturing facility in India, be it a aircraft production line or a ballistic testing facility.

Important views
  • I told you Rafale MII is coming .. You see most probably the IGA (inter Governmental Agreement) will be signed in Jan 25th 2016.
  • The final contract will be signed post DPP 2016 release and release of confirmation payment approx 10% before Mar 2016
  • The offset includes the manufacturing facility set up
  • What you get is the desired level of TOT to be absorbed in LCA as a return (it would be interesting even if we get a present F3 Spectra version before the upgrades in F3R2 and we can apply it on LCAs.. lol)
  • and development of human skill sets via training and creation of MRO
  • Now you know how MMRCA is renegotiated and made a more legally binding document across all spectrum of forces for IA, IAFand IN
Source:Defence ministry to change offsets policy; proposals worth $16 billion underway - The Economic Times

@FrenchPilot @Taygibay @halloweene
Rafale more or less is now looking at MII part via a very smart route.. You get credible and deliverable offsets and with that a new era of new orders and long term strategic reltaionship is established
 
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As for other big news - Expect India to be a part of few Elite Multilateral organizations like NSG and the Missile Control Regime. UNSC is still a dream though. How relationship evolves with Pakistan and China would determine the progress on this front.
To be honest I have little hope for India entering the NSG or MTCR in 2016 either, perhaps in 2017-.


As for the UNSC, this is a distant dream in my opnion, maybe in 2025 but not for the forseeable future- the UN is simply too fractured and inefficient.

Big question mark is FGFA - I have no clue what is the path ahead on this but again have a hunch that it is not gonna work out for us hence we are left with two options
The FGFA is indeed a blind spot but I have good reason to beleive it will be a success in the long term but I would give up any dreams of seeing it in Indian service before 2025. In the interim the case for the Rafale will just be made stronger and stronger- whilst the current requirement is for 126-189 Rafales (this has not changed no matter what anyone says), any delay on the FGFA will be offset by further Rafale purchases and NOT further MKIs purchases. This is not only most desirable strategy proposed by the IAF (in terms of creating the best force) but it also is sensible in that it shows the Russians a very tanigble "stick", offsetting delays in the FGFA with more MKI orders would be like offering to sharpen your murderer's knife, it would be counter productive to say the least
 
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I can tell you what DM MP has planned via his innovative and visionary inputs in DPP 2016.. See here below excerpts from a ET article
  1. While the current outstanding value of offsets - pegged at $16 billion to be executed till 2028- shall be executed under older rules, all future programmes will be governed by a new policy set to be announced in January 2016.
  2. The defence ministry has firmed up its futuristic offset policy to promote 'Make in India', technology transfer and skill development - the key focus areas of the government.
  3. In the past, foreign companies winning major Indian military contracts were mandated to spend at least 30 per cent of the contract value.
  4. This would give the foreign players flexibility to choose any area to invest in, leaving little control on the kind of technology or capability transfer.
  5. With the new rules, set to be part of the Defence Procurement Policy 2016, the defence ministry and the armed forces buying the equipment will specify what they want as offsets for a particular deal.
  6. Three options will be available for the government under the new policy.
    1. One would be a directed offsets plan in which the foreign vendor will be mandated to spend its 30 per cent investment share in a particular Make in India plan - to set up a defined manufacturing facility in India, be it a aircraft production line or a ballistic testing facility.
    2. The second option would be transfer of technology - with a committee of the armed forces and defence ministry deciding what technology is needed. In this case, DRDO would be the custodian of the technology but the production agency - the private sector will be preferred - would be fully involved from the beginning.
    3. The third option is for skill development - creation of R&D facilities, innovation centers, training institutions and labs - to raise a new generation of skilled workers for the defence and aerospace sector.
  7. The stress on skill development makes perfect sense. Better skills would boost innovation and give rise to a spirit of enterprise.
  8. In tandem, we need a better institutional setup for tech revamp in the defence sector and beyond.
  9. We need close interaction between DRDO, industry and academe, and not just for technology and skill absorption.

I am highlighting two special point again for reference and to showcase what we have always said before

With the new rules, set to be part of the Defence Procurement Policy 2016, the defence ministry and the armed forces buying the equipment will specify what they want as offsets for a particular deal.

One would be a directed offsets plan in which the foreign vendor will be mandated to spend its 30 per cent investment share in a particular Make in India plan - to set up a defined manufacturing facility in India, be it a aircraft production line or a ballistic testing facility.

Important views

  • I told you Rafale MII is coming .. You see most probably the IGA (inter Governmental Agreement) will be signed in Jan 25th 2016.
  • The final contract will be signed post DPP 2016 release and release of confirmation payment approx 10% before Mar 2016
  • The offset includes the manufacturing facility set up
  • What you get is the desired level of TOT to be absorbed in LCA as a return (it would be interesting even if we get a present F3 Spectra version before the upgrades in F3R2 and we can apply it on LCAs.. lol)
  • and development of human skill sets via training and creation of MRO
  • Now you know how MMRCA is renegotiated and made a more legally binding document across all spectrum of forces for IA, IAFand IN
Source:Defence ministry to change offsets policy; proposals worth $16 billion underway - The Economic Times

@FrenchPilot @Taygibay @halloweene
Rafale more or less is now looking at MII part via a very smart route.. You get credible and deliverable offsets and with that a new era of new orders and long term strategic reltaionship is established

Very well compiled. Regarding Rafales - there is not too much information outside of unverified news reports about future orders - Any news on that? I assume India would play hardball on this and demand substantial ToT and access to the critical Rafale tech like source codes and modifications in terms of payload to be carried, incorporating Israeli/Russian sensors and weapons to cut costs.
 
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Your source can be wrong. I have too heard rumblings about it, and since there is the Toshiba angle, I dug further and was stonewalled. Now I am not saying that 100% it wont go through - but what I found out is that there are many big teething issues and Westinghouse is asking for some assurances which GoI cannot provide in the current political scenario.

Now things can change but I am not very optimistic. Areva deal is more likely is all I am saying
Fair enough sir, naturally nothing is risk free and forecasts can be highly inaccurate. I am simply willing to place a lot of trust in what I have heard because of who my source is and his reasons for beleiving so but the situation could change.

The AREVA deal is certainly more likely to make tangible progress in 2016 but after the PM's visit to Paris in April that was never really in any doubt anymore and the French success in India is not to the detriment of the US- the American PWRs are being proposed for a an entirely different site in Gujarat.
 
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Very well compiled. Regarding Rafales - there is not too much information outside of unverified news reports about future orders - Any news on that? I assume India would play hardball on this and demand substantial ToT and access to the critical Rafale tech like source codes and modifications in terms of payload to be carried, incorporating Israeli/Russian sensons and weapons to cut costs.

I am having clearcut plan for first 90 orders + follow ons .. The follow ons have an option of changing version from one force to another and an equal number directly off the shelf too.This is what i have got as part of financial report for French bankers tie up for funding. The production rate is expected to be around 14-16. Unfortunately the report came to me about 4 months back and does not ahve Indian partners name and said to be announced later.. (i had told that in here i guess @Abingdonboy may remember it)

The follow on clause seems to have a foresight that in case of IN (other force) demands a rafale M then the follow on production will be used exclusively for them and such a equal number may get directly build at Merignac. Eventually i guess IAF will end up between 126-189 and a 60-80 numbers are expected for IN. IN may utilise Rafale M for multi purpose carrier based fighters to forming its fixed wing fleet too.. With an aim for almost 5 CBGs they will have a huge demand and Dassault effectively can seal a huge deal if it delivers the goods and TOT.

The TOT to LCA is the best way actually. Rafale may not have to give in hugely but a downgraded spectra, help in various systems, sub system and a redesign inside for modular access may make LCA MK2 perhaps a far better plane than whats envisioned at present. A more friendly to pilots and service folks. The carrier version of LCA will get the best of the know how directly from Rafale M.

That would be the plan sureshot.. What would be interesting is what could be the potential Israeli stuff that Rafale can incorporate which is at present inferior (to Israeli) or lacking.. (besides HMDS). Incorporation of Astra and Sudharshan LGB will be planned sureshot. Interestingly ALCM like Brahmos - Mini and Nirbhay and Brahmos2 may be as part of newer integration but later timeframe (but may be defined as part of offset)
 
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Fair enough sir, naturally nothing is risk free and forecasts can be highly inaccurate. I am simply willing to place a lot of trust in what I have heard because of who my source is and his reasons for beleiving so but the situation could change.

The AREVA deal is certainly more likely to make tangible progress in 2016 but after the PM's visit to Paris in April that was never really in any doubt anymore and the French success in India is not to the detriment of the US- the American PWRs are being proposed for a an entirely different site in Gujarat.

Ok, I will elaborate further but I am clarifying that take all my points with a pinch of salt as I will not provide any source to verify the same hence rendering all the information provided nothing more than a guess-work on my part.

As I said there are lot of moving parts

1. Japanese Diet - Despite Abe's visit there is no clarity on the Civil Nuclear Agreement with India. As you know Toshiba owns a 87% stake in WE the plants are tied up in a tangential manner to the approval from Diet. Now of officially the approval is not required but behind the scenes the deal will not be finalized unless an informal nod is given.

2. Liability Issues - WE is not satisfied with Insurance Pool and needs further assurances and as of yet nothing has been worked out.

3. Lobbies - As we know Gujarat is a sensitive area in this regard and we can all recall what a hue and cry was made over Narmada rehabillitation. Anti Nuclear Lobbyists and other forces are now preparing grounds to launch a similar agitation in Gujarat to block the deal. In normal scenario this could have been handeled but the recent reverses in Gujarat elections, Congress Resurgence and the Patel agitation has put BJP on the backfoot. Modi will do not do anything to jeopardize his bastion even if it is contrary to National Interest.

4. Cost - The other players are offering a similar if a bit technologically inferior reactors at a much lower price. We know that a plant has to viable before anything and economics is not favoring WE at the moment.

5. LAB - Self Explanatory.

Regards
 
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@PARIKRAMA an excellent summarising of the much-awaited/hyped DPP-2016

  • .
  • With the new rules, set to be part of the Defence Procurement Policy 2016, the defence ministry and the armed forces buying the equipment will specify what they want as offsets for a particular deal.
I always thought this was a stupid and glaring loophole that foreign OEMs rightly exploited.


In this case, DRDO would be the custodian of the technology but the production agency - the private sector will be preferred - would be fully involved from the beginning.
I am very pleased to see this structure being set up- DRDO will remain the country's premier defence R&D centre but will increasingly outsource production to the private sector with performance clauses and penalties established instead of those infamously inefficent DPSUs- much like the DARPA model.
 
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I am having clearcut plan for first 90 orders + follow ons .. The follow ons have an option of changing version from one force to another and an equal number directly off the shelf too.This is what i have got as part of financial report for French bankers tie up for funding. The production rate is expected to be around 14-16. Unfortunately the report came to me about 4 months back and does not ahve Indian partners name and said to be announced later.. (i had told that in here i guess @Abingdonboy may remember it)

The follow on clause seems to have a foresight that in case of IN (other force) demands a rafale M then the follow on production will be used exclusively for them and such a equal number may get directly build at Merignac. Eventually i guess IAF will end up between 126-189 and a 60-80 numbers are expected for IN. IN may utilise Rafale M for multi purpose carrier based fighters to forming its fixed wing fleet too.. With an aim for almost 5 CBGs they will have a huge demand and Dassault effectively can seal a huge deal if it delivers the goods and TOT.

The TOT to LCA is the best way actually. Rafale may not have to give in hugely but a downgraded spectra, help in various systems, sub system and a redesign inside for modular access may make LCA MK2 perhaps a far better plane than whats envisioned at present. A more friendly to pilots and service folks. The carrier version of LCA will get the best of the know how directly from Rafale M.

That would be the plan sureshot.. What would be interesting is what could be the potential Israeli stuff that Rafale can incorporate which is at present inferior (to Israeli) or lacking.. (besides HMDS). Incorporation of Astra and Sudharshan LGB will be planned sureshot. Interestingly ALCM like Brahmos - Mini and Nirbhay and Brahmos2 may be as part of newer integration but later timeframe (but may be defined as part of offset)

Thanks that was enlightening to say the least.
 
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Ok, I will elaborate further but I am clarifying that take all my points with a pinch of salt as I will not provide any source to verify the same hence rendering all the information provided nothing more than a guess-work on my part.

As I said there are lot of moving parts

1. Japanese Diet - Despite Abe's visit there is no clarity on the Civil Nuclear Agreement with India. As you know Toshiba owns a 87% stake in WE the plants are tied up in a tangential manner to the approval from Diet. Now of officially the approval is not required but behind the scenes the deal will not be finalized unless an informal nod is given.

2. Liability Issues - WE is not satisfied with Insurance Pool and needs further assurances and as of yet nothing has been worked out.

3. Lobbies - As we know Gujarat is a sensitive area in this regard and we can all recall what a hue and cry was made over Narmada rehabillitation. Anti Nuclear Lobbyists and other forces are now preparing grounds to launch a similar agitation in Gujarat to block the deal. In normal scenario this could have been handeled but the recent reverses in Gujarat elections, Congress Resurgence and the Patel agitation has put BJP on the backfoot. Modi will do not do anything to jeopardize his bastion even if it is contrary to National Interest.

4. Cost - The other players are offering a similar if a bit technologically inferior reactors at a much lower price. We know that a plant has to viable before anything and economics is not favoring WE at the moment.

5. LAB - Self Explanatory.

Regards
Thank you for this reason-based response sir- it is very refreashing indeed and I take all your points, there is little I can say in the way of a rebuttal.

I would simply add that this "lobby" element is the most troubling of all. All other issues can be resolved through the considerations, dialogue and the democratic process. With lobbyists/NGOs there can be no such reasoning nor hope of addressing their concerns, their very exsistence is rooted in being atagonistic and disruptive- success to them is the comprimising of India's national interest- it is a zero sum game and this marks it as distinctly seperate from all other issues/concerns.
 
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Thank you for this reason-based response sir- it is very refreashing indeed and I take all your points, there is little I can say in the way of a rebuttal.

I would simply add that this "lobby" element is the most troubling of all. All other issues can be resolved through the considerations, dialogue and the democratic process. With lobbyists/NGOs there can be no such reasoning nor hope of addressing their concerns, their very exsistence is rooted in being atagonistic and disruptive- success to them is the comprimising of India's national interest- it is a zero sum game and this marks it as distinctly seperate from all other issues/concerns.

These people have nothing to do with reasonable environmental concerns. I am a huge believer in pro-environment policies and technology but absolutely detest these low-lives. The organization in India are in plain terms in the business of black-mail. They wait for a big ticket deal to be announced and then round up the usual paid villagers etc to block the deal until an informal payout is made to them by the company or Govt in charge. If these people with genuinely concerned with the safety, disposal and rehabilitation aspect then as you say a reasonable solution could be arrived at.
 
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These people have nothing to do with reasonable environmental concerns. I am a huge believer in pro-environment policies and technology but absolutely detest these low-lives. The organization in India are in plain terms in the business of black-mail. They wait for a big ticket deal to be announced and then round up the usual paid villagers etc to block the deal until an informal payout is made to them by the company or Govt in charge. If these people with genuinely concerned with the safety, disposal and rehabilitation aspect then as you say a reasonable solution could be arrived at.

Indeed sir, I am also very much in favour of protecting our enviroment and would certainly welcome all public discourse on matters of this scale but these scoundrals have no agenda other than to oppose the GoI/India's interests. The most despicable and infuriating part is that they offer no solutions, they simply protest for the sake of protesting, this is their entire purpose. These animals would like to see India remain in the dirt, I am yet to see a foreign NGO in India championing the rights of all Indians to access electricity (a proven factor for upward social mobility) but have the audacity to hide behind the banner of "science" and try to present completely absurd theories as fact.

Yes, in a fair society checks and balances to the government are required but these self-appointed judge, juries and executioners are not it. They accuse the GoI of being unlawful and opaque but keep their internal affairs (funding, mandate, publications, staff etc) entirely secret. They accuse the GoI of trampling on laws and yet when they are found to be in breach of India's laws claim they are being unfairly targetted.

We have seen the hand of these foreign powers/entities again and again in India, and being home to the most NGOs anywhere in the world it is no wonder.
 
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If i may add, the Westinghouse deal news is actually based on the following
  • The Pennsylvania-based company, which is a unit of Toshiba Corp., is in negotiations with India to build AP1000 reactors with a capacity of 1,150 megawatts each in the state of Gujarat, Chief Executive Officer Daniel Roderick said in an e-mail.
  • Westinghouse Electric Co. expects to reach a deal with India by the end of next year to provide at least six nuclear reactors.
  • Progress toward a deal comes as India considers changes to liability laws for nuclear accidents.
  • “Recent changes made to the proposed insurance program are encouraging to us,” Roderick said. If the U.S. government says India meets international standards for liability law, “we are in a position to go forward quickly.”
  • India’s Department of Atomic Energy may include clauses in contracts with domestic suppliers to spare them from the right to recourse, Sekhar Basu, a secretary with the agency said last month in New Delhi.
Source: Westinghouse Expects to Sell India Nuclear Reactors by End 2016 - Bloomberg Business

BTW another report among investors
  • The plan for Westinghouse Reactors was proposed by the country's own Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it will accelerate the country's growth.
  • The plan will reform the country to become the second-biggest nuclear energy market in the world with around 60 reactors expected to be built in strategic places around India.
  • Currently, the Indian government is planning to slowly become independent from non-renewable energy in accordance to their pledge to cut on greenhouse gas emission and improve the world's climate.
  • Under this plan, India will be able to produce 63,000 megawatts of electricity from nuclear alone and with the country already owning hydro turbine electricity plants, it is possible for the country to reach its target.
  • Westinghouse which is also a unit company of Toshiba, is not alone in the nuclear deal as previously, General Electric Co and its venture partner, Hitachi was also offered a site to build nuclear reactors in India in 2009.
  • However, the company is still undecided on whether to go ahead with the construction or not until today as they still deemed the liability law in India is still uneven and would cost more damage to the company.
  • Toshiba's shares surge after news about the proposal made it into the news and its CEO is optimistic that Westinghouse will win the project
And here is reuters Exclusive: India closing in on Westinghouse deal to build six nuclear reactors| Reuters
India expects to seal a contract with Westinghouse Electric Co LLC to build six nuclear reactors in the first half of next year, a senior government official said, in a sign its $150 billion dollar nuclear power program is getting off the ground.

The proposed power plant in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat will accelerate India's plans to build roughly 60 reactors, which would make it the world's second-biggest nuclear energy market after China.

India wants to dramatically increase its nuclear capacity to 63,000 megawatts (MW) by 2032, from 5,780 MW, as part of a broader push to move away from fossil fuels, cut greenhouse gas emissions and avoid the dangerous effects of climate change.

The United States signed a pact with India in 2008, opening the way for nuclear commerce that had previously been stymied due to New Delhi's nuclear weapons program and shunning of the global Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

But hopes that reactor makers would get billions of dollars of new business evaporated after India adopted a law in 2010 giving the state-run operator Nuclear Power Corp of India Ltd (NPCIL) the right to seek damages from suppliers in the event of an accident.

Indian officials have been trying to assuage suppliers' concerns, including by setting up an insurance pool with a liability cap of 15 billion Indian rupees ($226.16 million). A final hurdle – ratification of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC) – is expected within weeks, the Indian government official said.

The CSC requires signatories to shift liability to the operator and offers access to relief funds.

In a statement, Westinghouse said it expected India would move towards a framework that satisfies the CSC and channels accident liability exclusively to the operator. The statement made no reference to ongoing negotiations.

Shares of Westinghouse's parent, Toshiba Corp (6502.T), jumped as much as 3.3 percent on Thursday after the news, before slipping back. A Toshiba spokesman declined to comment on the report, but noted that Westinghouse has been confident of winning orders from India.

A deal with Westinghouse could also put pressure on General Electric Co (GE.N), whose nuclear energy venture with Hitachi (6501.T) was offered a site six years ago to build reactors.

GE has still not decided whether it would move ahead with the plan, the official said, adding that India was keen for a decision from the company soon.

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy said it had strong interest in India, and that the CSC would be "a sustainable solution to concerns about India's existing domestic nuclear liability law".

India's plans for ramping up nuclear capacity have in the past fallen far short of targets and industry officials say that the aim to lift the share of nuclear power to a quarter of its energy mix, from barely 3 percent now, is very ambitious.

NO MORE TECHNICAL HURDLES
Later this week, India is expected to offer Russia a site in its southern state of Andhra Pradesh to build six reactors, on top of the six it is already expected to build in neighboring Tamil Nadu, Indian and Russian officials have said. Separately, India expects Japan, which supplies components used in most reactors, to ratify an agreement some time in the second quarter of 2016 to support its nuclear program, another senior Indian government source said. "There are no more technical hurdles in the development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," the source said.

French nuclear company Areva (AREVA.PA), which uses Japanese components, also has a deal to build six reactors in India, although restructuring within that company was likely to delay construction until 2017, the first official said.

French utility EDF (EDF.PA) agreed earlier this year to buy a majority stake in Areva's reactor business. Areva has been in price negotiations with NPCIL for several months now, officials at the Indian operator told Reuters in November.

Areva did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

WESTINGHOUSE DEAL Negotiators from Westinghouse and Indian operator NPCIL have held several rounds of talks on the nuclear plant in Mithi Virdi, the government official said.

NPCIL declined to comment on the negotiations. Federal minister for Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh told parliament this month that talks were going on with French and U.S. firms to arrive at project proposals. He offered no details.

But the government source said Westinghouse and NPCIL were negotiating all six reactors in one go, instead of an earlier plan to strike deals for two at a time.

Construction of the roughly 1,100 MW reactors could begin later in 2016, the official, who is close to the negotiations, added.

The idea was to allow the Americans and the French, India's two close partners, to catch up with the Russians in its nuclear sector, the official said. "This is a train that is moving soon," the official said. ($1 = 66.3250 Indian rupees)

(Additional reporting by Tommy Wilkes and Doug Busvine in New Delhi, and Lewis Krauskopf in New York; Editing by Alex Richardson)

Source Exclusive: India closing in on Westinghouse deal to build six nuclear reactors| Reuters
 
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Very well compiled. Regarding Rafales - there is not too much information outside of unverified news reports about future orders - Any news on that? I assume India would play hardball on this and demand substantial ToT and access to the critical Rafale tech like source codes and modifications in terms of payload to be carried, incorporating Israeli/Russian sensors and weapons to cut costs.

The French are not very good either regarding ToT. If you look at the whole drama behind earlier negotiations while UPA was in power was revolving around ToT. Everything else is hogwash.
I will tell we baught bombs from france in early 90s with ToT. After that the IAF arranged for a show with DefMin and flew it underbelly of a plane and the lo..bombs didnt drop. After an enquiry we realised that the software that is needed to jettison the bomb was not transfered to us.

Such is ToT. You will be completely wrong if you think they will give blueprint of their hard earned research just like that after heavily investing on it. I have not much hopes of it that Rafale will come with ToT (at least the way we would want it to be) and even if we are getting some and paying hefty then its our loss.

The only thing that could have been sweeter was the advantage of getting LCA better. With Israeli already in teh area of AESA I dont see much into it. However it can be improved but with delay, something we cant afford. But I wont worry much as the offset policy will give us benifits too and it could be huge. but not ToT.

our boy @Abingdonboy is only hopeful of 190 rafales and ToT ;)
 
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