By Ajit Dubey
New Delhi [India], India and France are in talks over the price and other related issues of the most important 26 Rafale maritime fighter aircraft deal for the Indian Navy.
The talks were earlier scheduled to be held on May 30, but in view of the pending election process of the Lok Sabha elections, it was postponed to the second week of June.
"The French delegation is in New Delhi, including officials from their Directorate General of Armaments, which is overseeing the sale of Rafale jets to India," defense sources told ANI.
The Indian side in these government-to-government talks is represented by officials from the Directorate General of Acquisition under the Defense Ministry and other military officials from the user side, he said.
The overall project is likely to cost more than Rs 50,000 crore and will help increase the number of these advanced aircraft in the Indian inventory to 62 along with the existing 36 in the Air Force fleet.
The aircraft will be operated from Indian Navy aircraft carriers including INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.
As per the plan, the Indian Navy will deploy these aircraft at INS Degha in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh as its home base.
France had in December last year submitted its response to India's tender to procure 26 Rafale sea jets for the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers - INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
The reply to India's letter of acceptance was presented by France in New Delhi.
The Indian side is in talks with French government officials, as it is a government-to-government contract and India is trying to get a better deal.
New Delhi [India], India and France are in talks over the price and other related issues of the most important 26 Rafale maritime fighter aircraft deal for the Indian Navy.
The talks were earlier scheduled to be held on May 30, but in view of the pending election process of the Lok Sabha elections, it was postponed to the second week of June.
"The French delegation is in New Delhi, including officials from their Directorate General of Armaments, which is overseeing the sale of Rafale jets to India," defense sources told ANI.
The Indian side in these government-to-government talks is represented by officials from the Directorate General of Acquisition under the Defense Ministry and other military officials from the user side, he said.
The overall project is likely to cost more than Rs 50,000 crore and will help increase the number of these advanced aircraft in the Indian inventory to 62 along with the existing 36 in the Air Force fleet.
The aircraft will be operated from Indian Navy aircraft carriers including INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.
As per the plan, the Indian Navy will deploy these aircraft at INS Degha in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh as its home base.
France had in December last year submitted its response to India's tender to procure 26 Rafale sea jets for the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers - INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
The reply to India's letter of acceptance was presented by France in New Delhi.
The Indian side is in talks with French government officials, as it is a government-to-government contract and India is trying to get a better deal.
