Article Posted on : - Mar 26, 2015

The Rafale fighter.

ISTRES, FRANCE (PTI): Pitching the multi-billion deal for 126 Rafale combat jets as the "logical step" towards the 'Make in India' initiative, Dassault Aviation on Wednesday hoped that the contract which has been "95 per cent finalised" would be signed soon.

At a ceremony to hand over the first two upgraded Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft to India, the company's CEO Eric Trappier declined to give a timeline for the signing of the deal, saying the question should be put to the Indian Defence Ministry.

However, he said it was better to take time now than clarifications being sought after the signing of the contract which he said is already running into thousands of pages.

When Rafale was shortlisted in 2012, the deal was estimated to be about US$ 10 billion but it is now over US$ 20 billion, including the life-cycle cost.

Dassault CEO also underlined his company's contribution to the Narendra Modi-led government's 'Make in India' policy and said the Mirage upgrade programme would serve it as the rest of the fleet would be upgraded in Bengaluru and his firm and Thales would offer their complete support.

A deal on Rafale would be a step in that direction, Trappier said.

"Rafale aircraft has been chosen by India after a comprehensive selection process in the frame of the MMRCA competition and exclusive negotiation is ongoing.

"Rafale is the next logical step. HAL and Indian industries will contribute to the Make in India policy by developing and manufacturing it locally," he said.

Trapper hoped that the contract would be signed soon.

"It's 95 per cent finalised. The contract is being reviewed with the Defence Ministry (India). I prefer we take time now than all the clarifications coming later," he told reporters at a Dassault facility in France.

Trappier said he was greatly satisfied that Indian Air Force is keen to get hold of the aircraft.

"You can imagine my great satisfaction to hear from Indian Air Force Chief that he wants the combat-proven fighter Rafale, a logical step for the Indian Air force...I believe that contract finalisation could happen soon," Trappier said, adding later that he was told during the Aero India in Bengaluru that the organisation was "desperate" to get new fighters.

During his press conference at the air show, IAF Chief Air Marshal Arup Raha had said that the force needed a Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft.

Refusing to name Rafale, he had said there was no Plan B if the deal falls through.