In a major development, India is planning to buy 26 Rafale fighter aircraft and three Scorpene class conventional submarines from France.
The proffers have been placed before the Defence Ministry by the defence forces and are likely to be blazoned during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France this week, government sources said.
As per the proffers, the Indian Navy will get 22 single- seated Rafale Marine aircraft along with four coach aircraft.
The Navy had been pressing for acquiring these fighter aircraft and submarines urgently as they’ve been facing dearths in view of the security challenges around the country.
India to buy 26 Rafales, 3 Scorpene submarines from France, deals likely to be announced during PM Modi’s visit on 13-14 july pic.twitter.com/QFT3Rt0QCc
— Sumanta Swain 🚩🛕🇮🇳🕉️ (@sumanta_swain) July 10, 2023
The aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and Vikrant have been operating the MiG- 29s and need the Rafales for operations on both carriers.
Meanwhile, the three Scorpene class submarines would be acquired under the reprise clause by the Navy as part of Project 75 where they would be erected in the Mazagon Shipyards Limited in Mumbai.
The deals are estimated to be worth over Rs 90,000 crore but the final cost would be clear only after the contract accommodations are completed which will be held after the deal is blazoned.
India is likely to seek price concessions in the deal and would be averring on having further’ Make- in- India’ content in the plan, sources said.
Assiduity sources said for the Rafale M deal, India and France are anticipated to form a common platoon to negotiate the deal like it was done for the former Rafale deal for 36 fighter aircraft.
The proffers have been bandied in the defence ministry at high- position meetings formerly and are likely to be placed before the defence accession council in the coming many days and anticipated to be accorded Acceptance of Necessity by the government before the advertisement in France.