Dassault won the right to enter exclusive negotiations with India after lodging a lower bid than its European rival in the world’s biggest single defence deal currently in process, an Indian government source told AFP on Tuesday.
Dassault, whose Rafale fighter had been pitted against the Eurofighter Typhoon, said it was “honoured and grateful” to be selected and stressed its commitment to meeting the “operational requirements” of the Indian Air Force.
The French government welcomed the news, but added that the final contract had yet to be signed.
“At this stage – and I want to be cautious – we are in a phase of exclusive negotiations,” French Minister of State for Foreign Trade Pierre Lellouche told France’s BFM radio.
Lellouche declined to release financial details of Dassault’s bid.
Dassault Aviation shares soared more than 20 per cent on the Paris Stock Exchange after the news broke.
The huge contract to supply war planes to fast-developing India has been fiercely fought over for four years.
India in April pulled a surprise by cutting out US bidders Boeing and Lockheed Martin – much to Washington’s disappointment – as well as dropping Sweden’s Saab AB and the Russian makers of the MiG 35 from the race.
That left Dassault and Eurofighter – a consortium of Britain’s BAE Systems, Italy’s Finmeccanica and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company.
James Hardy, Asia-Pacific editor of Jane’s Defence Weekly, said the decision was “a big win for the Rafale” but warned that the French side faced a period of tough negotiation.
“Rafale has been selected as the preferred bidder but any student of Indian procurement knows that this means nothing until the contract is physically signed,” Hardy said.
He predicted that the recent sharp depreciation of the Indian currency and “standard contractual wrangling” could delay any final deal for years.
The tendered contract was for the outright purchase of 18 combat aircraft by 2012 with another 108 to be built in India with options to acquire more.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2012.
COMMENTS (113)
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who cares?
UK let Tata buy JLR, but India doesnt let foreign companies buy anything in India – they need to protect local companies as they are unsophisticated, corrupt and inefficient. India is still a backward country, it will take 100 years to get even close to UK. India buys Rafale because France helps nuclear industry – no other country has bought this cheap plane. You would think at least one - just one - would have bought it, but no, just poor India. UK gives aid to India but should give it to very poor African countries, not ungrateful ignorant Indians
@USMANx: You can well that what impact Islam rule had on India today. We did not become a islamic country nor do we have any islamic impact on majority!!!! That tells you how much Indians have "appreciated" islam as a religion. Other than Hinduism, the most embraced religon in India is christianity. As India grows stronger, not only will expand its soft power but also its cultural power. The fact that bollywood rules Pakistan shows that muslims in Pakistan embrace Indian culture. This shows who is ruling whom after " your 1000 years islamic rule illusion". It shows clearly India was TOO STRONG for Islam to convert its majority. You better ask an some one other an India what kind of heritrage and history you have that they KNOW.
@Amjed, "Over 500 million Indians don’t have access to toilets.."
Make sure they all don't head your way in the mornings if you keep throwing bombs at us..LOL!
12 billion dollars eh ! Shucks, we have to keep the military supplied with their expensive toys don't we? I wonder how many schools, hospitals, bridges, new roads could have been built for that tax money? All major countries seem to be binging on military hardware though, and has anybody noticed that they do not allow their aircraft to be used unless they are targeting third world countries who cannot retaliate? After all, we cannot have expensive aircraft being shot down in real warfare can we?
@Disco: My friend, the slums in Bombay are fine and are a larger economy than Karachi. The Indians did not lose money in telecom licenses becauses the rule of law exists in India - those 122 licenses have been scrapped. If you read the article carefully, you will find that 108 of the planes will be made in India - with significant technology transfer. This was the reason that we did not accept the offer of F-18s etc, because we want to develop our fledgling avionics industry, which has a long way to go. Glad to note that Pak has already become a major military aircraft manufacturer based on a Chinese jet that the Chinese themselves refuse to induct into their air force.
I guess the Indians weren't happy losing $40Billion in telecom licenses, they want to throw more money away buying airplanes rather than making one themselves (read JF-17). not quite the long thinking of a *cough superpower that we were expecting. Btw, how are the slums of Mumbai these days?
@Shyam: Dude - Buddha lived around 560 BC, unlikely that there were Buddhists before him - inaccurate knowledge of history opens oneself to ridicule. I agree that the consistent identification with external agressors instead of their own compatriots is rather pathetic - and is a trait that Pakistan alone carries - all other Muslim nations (example - Iran/ Egypt/ Indonesia) take great pride in their pre-Islamic history and unique culture. I understand that this is a big joke with the Arabs - hope it helps make Pak labourers in the ME more popular. But on serious note, a country whose genesis was as an anti-India can never hope to have a stand-alone identity. For all those who comment on India's poverty - I agree; it would have been much better to be able to alleviate the suffering of millions of our underprivileged, but the environment that we live in is such that securing our borders becomes an essential requirement, and we have been dragged into this arms race. We lost the 1962 war (yes, we at least know which wars we lost) because we foolishly assumed that the high moral ground would protect us. Luckily, we do not need handouts from other nations to manage our defense budgets - maybe Pak army should take that into account as it presses the pedal on bomb manufacturing while most of Pakistan suffers in the dark?
@Amjad: hi, i want to let u know, every country has poor pepoles including america and u . it does'not mean we should not bother about national security. and pakistan is not in senario. our concerned is about china. ltiger only fights with lion not with dogs and jackals. i hope u will get it. GOOD LUCK................
@Amjad: No Indian is leaving desperately. They are just expanding their horizons in the global community. Many Indians eventually return back home as there is plenty of opportunity in India as well. Can you say the same for your country? The answer is a resounding NO
subhan allah !!
@Imran Mohammad: y u so jealous abt india......
@USMANx you can’t just wash away 1000 years of our Islamic history
By your convoluted logic, Christians ruled you for 10,000 years, Oh whats about the 10,000 years buddhist rule before the islamic invaders came and violated your ancestors.
@Omar: @Amjad: My best wishes to both of you. Please do not give up on your daydreaming. After all, that is all a Pakistani of your attitude has to give himself some comfort. Meanwhile, the world moves on.
@Zaal:
An Afghan said the same thing to me. The way Pakistanis name their missiles after the Afghans who conquered them annoys Afghans too.
these fighters jets will crash like this migs - problem lies in our ndian pilots who are malnourished
@Rohit: Are you guys still talking about cricket??
@Amjad: Because our values are similar and we are welcomed by Canada and are most favored compared to all other immigrant groups because of our positive contribution to the society and economy. They certainly do not want pakistanis coming in. We are becoming a major global presence and can export our surplus qualified skilled manpower to canada, while even your arab brothers oman and kuwait are rejecting pakistanis.
@Jigi Awesome fact checking and calling a spade a spade.
Pakistani missiles are named after Afghan kings Abdali, Ghauri and Ghaznavi because they have no history or heroes of their own. Denying your Indian roots will not make you Afghan, Persian, Arabic or Mongolian.
I cannot distinguish a Pakistani from an Indian and you can deny it until you are blue in the face but it is the truth.
@Azhar: Maybe you can tell us why the number source of immigration to Canada is India. Why do millions of Indians all want to leave India so desperately?
Dear Indians,
you can't just wash away 1000 years of our Islamic history and Indus civilization by simply stating that we are the progeny of our defeated ancestors.
Babur's army consisted of Pushtun soldiers. There are more pushtuns in pakistan than any other country in the world. The Balochis defeated the Marathis. The list goes on and on...
Just because Australia white-washed you recently doesn't you can white-wash history.... :)
@Omar: Beaten you 5 times in the last 60 years, one more time:)
@Omar: Bask in your past glory is all you can do which by the way is the root cause of the deep decay that has set in the Muslim world. Works for us. Our sights are set on bigger fish to our north
@kumaran: Well brother. Really well said. I do not under stand with no money how folks like Maria think they can even make of India. They live in 7th century arab lands. Todays pakistan was yesterdays "Indian land".These folks think that they have been that land by Arab masters. What a pity.
@Amjad: Yes India has 500 millions poor people and it knows HOW to take care of it. To get a silly 1 billion dollars-you need to ask (I am going to decent word here) IMF for 1 year and still you still do not get it without help. A pathetic 1 billion dollars.India throws 2 billions dollars for small projects. NOW I know you are educated to know how poor Pakistan IS that it needs JUST 1 billion dollars to survive. This reply is also to another illerate member (Maria) who keep showing perverse ignorance at India. Any sane mind can list 500 serious problems Pakistan has in 15 minutes. Its seems that Pakistanis know Indian economy better that Wall street journal or Europeans. Its smart to not open mouth to have respect given where Pakistan is today....
@Tahir: if Pakistan surivives till a war. India can ensure that your internal terrorism destroys you in ten years-if it wishes. All we need is another Indira Gandhi.
@Imran Mohammad: sadist reply.
@Omar: The world Indian means (muslims plus hindus plus christians) and India is ruling now-thats what matters and it will do so until the world exists. What did muslims achieve in those 350 year? (not 1000 years-go to school)? Answer : no respect not even native pride -your arrogance says it. No religion could dominate the might of India-today Indians can occupy Pakistan if they wish.Nuclear bombs will not stop India from stepping into Pakistan buddy.So shall we say that India beat Islam? Its fools notion in modern day world to use religion to identify-thats how backward Pakistan is. ITS WHAT YOU ACHIEVED THAT MATTERS NOT HOW LONG YOU LIVED. If you talk of religion, british had 1000 times more impact on Indian society than muslims.
@Homa: "India–the most amazing and exciting country in whole world. Blessed ..... it. " You have waxed lyrically eloquent. Add: India, the only country with its grasp on the Universe!!!!
@Yuri Kondratyuk: - oh you mean ( the ) jf-17 that crashed at the airshow and a few days later another in pakistan ? - yeah great plane eh ? ( ps; good one Yuri !!)
dedicated to all of you who said india has poor and spends on armaments , to all who said india is feeding the industries of europe - pls note that india did not buy just a plane, it bought technology so that it will spend much less in future by manufacturing its own !
@Pakistani Agnostic: - not me though, -i would always take a Gandhian approach towards pakistan
@Pakistani Agnostic: - the crunch point that dassault got the deal is the TOT - a few days before this was announced , Dassaut remarked the company was in trouble unless it managed to sell - india is buying TOT more than anything else from Dassault and will soon be able to upgrade its manufacturing to equal chinas ., perhaps even exceed .
@Omar: - those pakistanis with a head on their shoulders realise that it is not an agressive deal against Pak but a defense deal to protect against china - india and pak should be friends.
@BS.Detecter: Trust me it is still better than pakistan.... I am pakistani and left pakistan due to all known issues and If Pakistan is in position where India is today.. I do not need to stay outside pakistan.... I would have jumped with joy if companies like Reliance or Tatas are born out of pakistan.. and I am sure you too...
800 millions of them dont have proper sanitation available to them more than 75% of them live below $1.8 a day and see how proud they of few millionaires
Guys relax! MMRCA is argetted towards china not against india. Our recent acquisitions and modernization is china centric. if you want to know more go thorough this link http://defenceforumindia.com/indian-air-force/31082-dassault-rafale-wins-mmrca-44.html
we do not need MMRCA to counter pakistan.
@Jigi: Thanks for the info. I always accepted the Pakistani commentators' 1000 year figure as a fact and never looked up the actual history. Brothers across the border, you better come-up with some supporting facts.
@Tahir:
Excellent! Why don't you scrap all your Air-force, Army and navy right now and save some money?
@BS.Detecter:
I really hope that one day you will detect yourself.
@Jaffer.. i liked your idea. you can earn some money by setting neuclear bombs to india and spend on education, poverty aliviation etc etc.. we have huge defence budget so doesnt matter much to us.
@Pakistani Agnostic: India's internet population right now is around 100 million. It is going to be 400 million by the end of this decade. Wait until then if you have not been overwhelmed by now... And get ready for more...
@ABC: I find your comments extremely funny. You claim to have the best Army, the best Navy and the best Air force, not to talk of the best intelligence agency. And yet you have lost all the wars you have ever fought. Is it not better to be mediocre yet effective as we Indians are. We cannot fly planes and yet our pilots have dominated the Pakistan sky in the times of conflict. We cannot fight yet 90K Pakistani soldiers surrender to 3K Indian Army personnel. So far as Pakistan Navy is concerned, the less said the better. And yet you are the best fighting Army in the world! Bravo @Ghaznavi: Jealously will get you nowhere.
@Ghaznavi: well see who is saying this to us!!!...As per corruption-index-2011 India is placed 95 (CPI Score 3.1) and (It's bad), but Pakistan (CPI Score 2.5) is placed way below in 134 (too bad) - so before pointing fingers and laugh at others see yourself where you stand - your position is even below Bangladesh (CPI Score 2.7) placed 120...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/dec/01/corruption-index-2011-transparency-international
New Zealand (Ranked 1st - CPI Score 9.5), Denmark (Ranked 2nd - CPI Score 9.4), Finland (Ranked 2nd - CPI Score 9.4) are the best top three countries...
@Pakistani Agnostic: Its infested with more indians than Pakistanis.
India, please buy our nuclear weapons also, they are eating away our resources to maintain.
Wow is this a Pakistani newspaper or an Indian one.
@Maria: So Maria so did Indira Gandhi whisper these golden words that 1971 was for revenge in your ears ?
@Maria: @Tahawar: @Ghaznavi: many pakistanis are burning here saying India's poverty, lols, coz they can't do nothing to counter this other then the alien vehicle Junk Fighter Blunder 17. and poverty- we will manage it, no more advice from a failed side.
Good choice. Rafale is equivalent to Eurofighter in terms of technology and has a much longer and proven operational history. And with Mica missiles Inidan Air Force will acquire a nice BVR missile (assuming they are included in the contract). Even Chinese Air force has no fighter equivalent to Rafale (a true 4th generation fighter with 4th generation avionics) in its Air Force.
I am sure they end up being fodder for the vastly superior Sino-Pak ninth generation JF-17.
Chak de India !!!
Indians are good to get what is important for them without bothering friendly and unfriendly international pressure….. but I wonder who will fly these fighter jets?? Its better if Indian launch another bid to get few good fighter pilots too, may be from Russian, UK, France or Auses..… what do u think???
@cynical: you have your own world's best 4th generation made in pakistan fighter plane JF-17, ,engine supplied by Russian Mikoyan (MIG) company,Avionics from Russian Aviation industries assembled in China. there is no need to buy foreign fighter planes.
@Maria: Indiraji said that, did she? Well, she totally rocks!!! Joy indira. Joy bangla.
@Maria: Kindly give a proper reference or else stop spreading wrong rumours...
Still 60 Billion Dollar left in the kitty for Indian Armed Forces for the current decade purchase.
@Tahawar: we are not pakistan who feeds our population for no work. I think you didnot read article in detail. It says only 18 planes will come from france, rest will be manufactured in india only. What will that mean? It mean indian population will be working on these projects, which will provide job opportunities to both indian and french population, but again you wont understand how India is planning to remove poverty entirely by 2020 from this region as you belong to a beggar nation who has a new master named china...lol
It's sad that there are people dying on the streets of Indian cities of starvation but the Indians can find no better use of billions than to buy foreign fighter planes that will be obsolete in hardly a decade. Pakistan needn't worry about Indian planes. For one of the many Indian commentators above. As for the Muslims of Pak ruling South Asia for over 1000 years, Indira Gandhi herself said that India's mischief in 1971 was her revenge for the last 1000 years.
@Amjad: India have more millionaires than whole pak population....only Reliance Industries capital value is 2 times more than the listed companies in Karachi shock exchange......that means reliance can buy each and every pak company listed in stock market.......only TCS have over 3 lakhs IT engineers....and whole pak have 1.1 lakhs IT professionals....... dont worry about India....we are moving in a right direction........hope you shed anti-india mentality and start focusing on country's welfare..........
Politicians, bureaucrats and generals are going to get very rich soon from the USD 12 Billion given by poor people of India. I feel sorry for the pilots who will get killed when these planes star dropping like dead flies. Another corruption scandal on the way in the "*WORLD'S LARGEST CESSPOOL & OPEN AIR TOILET - INDIA *"
@Pakistani First: Hmmmm..... The question actually is how many could have been fed with the money Pakistan invests into its 'Nuclear assets', 'Strategic assets' and 'Military assets'.. Ever wondered??
Feed your poor. 75% of the billion population lives below poverty line. The jets are not going to give 2 square meals and clean water. Come out of your lala land dreams. Come out of your Bollywood fantasies... go to countryside and see how life is for those poors. Just check how many farmers commited suicide in 2011
Service ceiling height, ferry distance, thrust, and ability to perform in Leh valley of Kashmir, and simple no hassle tech transfer agreement already approved by the French government all played a part. US hornet could have won the contract, but for US-PAK-India triangle.
Both boeing and Lockheed Martin were debriefed at government to government level after their rejection and they reportedly did not have any complaints on the selection process.
Until US stops its supply to PAK, it is unlikely US companies will win a major contract with India.
@Imran Mohammad:
"Indians, get ready for mega corruption scandals. ‘Bofors scandal’, will look like ‘mother Tresa act’ to you. French do anything to sell their stuff, no ethics, morals or rules."
Considering how corrupt India has become, it is quite possible that some politicians and generals were paid off by the French. Corruption has become so rampant even in the armed forces now-a-days. Just today, I read the news of two retired Indian generals booked for land scam.
this purchase has been long overdue.
@Omar: funny man come to reality...you know a tinny nation called Cuba defied the super power USA by staying in it's own backyard for decades, so it's not that America is afraid of Cuba...In this modern world no one is interested in occupying others land and it's irrelevant...so please come and argue with us and ridicule us when you have everything better to India, such us better health care, better airports, better railways, better metros, better IT industry, better manufacturing Industry, better F1 race track, also show us the number of patients from India cross the boarder to get treated in Pakistan each year and many more - that is called victory for you and it will make us to work harder to chase your better development....
@Stuka:
There is a real question about just how good the M21's were in the first place given every time they have engaged in air to air combat they have lost. As for the french plane this decision was surely one on costs and not capability. PAK has an advantage with their F16's
@Omar: Pakistan started all 4 major wars and got defeated. (Source Pkistani Journalists)
@Pakistani First: how many billions you spend on your defense in Pakistan - I believe still the people affected on the Pakistan earthquake and flood are not fully rehabilitated, also recently many poor innocent people in Pakistan dead due to toxic medicine and ratio of Poor is more in Pakistan compared to India and yet Pakistan spend more on it's defense compared to India in GDP ratio terms...
Poor is there in every country and no one is having magic wand to wipe it overnight, but during the past 20 years India has lifted almost 330 million people out of poverty and made them middle class, so India is doing it's part to remove the poverty, but countries security is also a important priority....
What did India and pakistan get in 1947. AZADI to spend all their resources to destroy each other, and to keep the western military industrial complex working at full capacity. Will we ever see a sane approach ' to live and let live' and use the scare and precious resources for the good of the people. We all know that such mega contracts do help the leaders keep their Swiss accounts bursting at the seems.
@aka: *
**> "...u/buy when is ok.when pakistan buy
*
Same reason why no one minds a respectable gentleman living in a dangerous neighbourhood applying for a gun-licence for his protection; but entire the town will protest if a known rowdy and trouble-maker applies for the same licence.
....hope you got your answer....
Of course history testifies that over 1000 years, Islam was the "state" religion of Indian subcontinent, despite being a minority in terms of population.
I am funny too now, right? Read some history.
Hasan Nisar speaks non-sense. Mughals ruled me? I have a Persio-Mongolic ancestry, just like Mughals, and I live in Pakistan. How can my ancestors rule my ancestors? Logical contradiction.
indians are obsessed ...i mean half the population lives under 2$ a day..they themselves set bad examples and pakistan follows it.sad.
@Cynical: 'Pakistan should immediately place an order of equal magnitude with other manufacturers of fighter planes to maintain the parity'. How are you going to pay for them - grass. No dice man.
Omar stop listening to what Zaid Hamid says. He lives in fools paradise and so do you.
@Omar:
Yes Omar, india is very scared of Pakistan, muslims ruled India for 1000 years , etc etc. But can you explain why Pakistan has never won a war against india, why you lost half a country, why the concept of " strategic depth" is so important for your military even assuming India is mortally scared of Pakistan? Clarification would be most welcome.
@Pakistani First: not with this money, and better look @ yourself. heard that you are suffering from no grass
@Cynical: do it, and show it.
@Omar, Well most of that muslim rule was either mughal or turk. So unless you're descended from mughal or turk stock, realize that these people ruled over our ancestors as well (with military force). Mughal legacy isn't Pakistani legacy. Jatt, Pashtun, etc is our legacy. Ofcourse we should learn from the mughals (such as their architecture). But we should look inwards as well. So I can almost guarantee you that my ancestors and your's too probably never ruled over India. But that's fine. I don't want to rule over anyone. I just don't want anyone (foreigner) to rule over me.
@Cynical:
Do you realize that Pakistan has no money to maintain and fuel up locomotives to haul it's trains around the country - leave alone buy 126 new locomotives! You think the country can pull up it's socks to graduate to sophisticated warplanes? Grow up!
@Cynical:
Maybe the Chinses will sell them to PAK. Of course PAK would want them for free. The real question is how is PAK going to pay for them. Just strap a nuclear weapon on a camel and sent it on its way.
Over 500 million Indians don't have access to toilets but these Indians can waste billions on Western fighter jets which are Pakistan specific. An equal number live on less than 2 dollars a day. The Indians should be ashamed of themselves. And for what ? At the end of the day, the pilot makes all the difference and the Indians know that Pakistani pilots will trump Indian pilots no matter what plane the Indians are flying.
Here we go again. I am sure thousands upon thousands of Indians will descend upon this link as if their money is being taken away. Are you guys that insecure that you have to resort to insults to make your point.
Omar, you are way too funny
@Omar: Yeap. We have seen that in 71.
@Omar: You say that " India cant beat us, no matter how advanced or how many planes they buy!!" Wow, I didn't know that Pakistan WON the last FOUR WARS with India! But don't worry, Pakistan still has India "surrounded" because of EAST PAKISTAN! We still have East Pakistan, don't we?????
Omar, you are a funny man ! Lol...
India always tend to get the best deals from Russia, US, Israel, Britain, France, Germany, Sweden.. man kudos to their foreign policy. I think their excellent reputation, great non aligned friendship, absolutely sovereign decision making, very strong economy and a disciplined coherent system are main reasons of their success. No matter what we may say, India seem to really march ahead with confidence. Good for them.
Omra and Cynical - You guys will ensure Pakistan fails by pretending it can do whatever it wants.
@Omar: Kudos to your stone aged mindset. Religion has no place in modern world. We are all humans. Respect humanity.
Good Choice..India bought both a fighter and its technology. Thats the way to do it.
$12 billion could have used to feed the millions of hungry on the streets of India.
Omar : Who wants to beat a dead snake, Remember 1971. Get off your imaginary pedestal and come to reality. India has nothing to do with Pakistan or Pakistani muslims, We will not even turn towards their side once their terrorism game ends
India--the most amazing and exciting country in whole world. Blessed with a deep and powerful, original culture. Philosophically steeped in the the joyous and peaceful vibrations of an ancient land and its native wisdom. Treasure trove of knowledge, science, technology and the arts - flourishing education system, cities, villages and towns pulsating with the planet's richest traditions of music, archetecture, cuisine, fashion, spirituality etc. Industrial and agricultural giant. Spectacular natural beauty and resources. Warm, intelligent, decent, talented, educated and ambitious young population. Vibrant, intelligent, smart, optimistic, open minds. Cutting-edge military prowess. Global business destination. Undergoing rapid transformation in infrastructure. Free, empowered and confident women active in all economic and social spheres. Rich and harmonious diversity of life at all levels. Unlimited personal freedoms. Prosperity, opportunities, innovation and abundance were visible everywhere when I visited. The country and people have been richly blessed by the Divine. This will be the Indian century. A brilliant future is assured for it.
Good for both india and France...
Doesn't matter to Pakistan, if we do go to war with India then its going to a be a nuclear war, these planes won't matter.
Indians Operate the fleet of mirage 2000s and that alone would make them cozy with them. Here is a comparison of the four delta wing Planes http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraftcomparisonx4detail.asp
I'd say good job!! It is a very good lesson for both the Americans and the Russians. Americans now will come off their high horse, and quit linking all sorts of usage conditions and technology denial clauses in arms sales. Russians too will realise they cannot go on merrily doubling prices after contracts are signed. The French have offerred full technology transfer and local (Indian) purchase of components - which will give a fillip to the fledging Indian manufacturing industry.
u/buy when is ok.when pakistan buy then all the world start taken action.
Indians, get ready for mega corruption scandals. 'Bofors scandal', will look like 'mother Tresa act' to you. French do anything to sell their stuff, no ethics, morals or rules.
With this deal, India is only telling to the world that Europe/America/Russia are technologically very advanced and can't be matched. Indian talent knows no bound and sooner it starts manufacturing its own planes, the better.
When are we going to upgrade our AF? The only fighter capable of anything we have is the F-16. The others are Chinese (which even the Chinese haven't inducted) and old Mirage-IIIs and Chinese copy of Mig-19.
More jets to crash woohoo!
PAK should be happy India is getting a fighter with the same or a bit higher than the Chinses model PAK is getting. Future of air combat looks like a draw.
Excellent news. time to replace the MIG21s has been long overdue, and in any case, it is good to see diversification from Russian hardware. Not to say Russian is bad, but over dependence on one country is bad.
This will help beef up air security on China border.
Contract has not been awarded yet. The headline is misleading. Only exclusive talks have begun. Talks can still falter and contract may still be given to someone else.
They can buy 100 more, but will still be scared of Pakistan, because Muslims ruled India for 1000 years!!!!!!!! India cant beat us, no matter how advanced or how many planes they buy!!
When the dust settles I wonder how many people are going to end up in French jails over bribery charges -- seems to be the norm these days.
Pakistan should immediately place an order of equal magnitude with other manufacturers of fighter planes to maintain the parity.National security is of paramount importance.