Successive deadlines to complete one of the world's biggest airline contracts have slipped by, leading to reports that Britain's Eurofighter could try to re-enter the race.
French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said negotiations were "proceeding well" after he met his newly appointed Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar in New Delhi on Monday.
"For a project of this scale and such complexity... the pace is comparable to that of other negotiations," he said in an interview with Indian daily The Pioneer Tuesday.
"Both our governments share the will to conclude it (Rafale deal) and this is, of course, essential."
The pair discussed "all issues including Rafale", an Indian defence ministry spokesman told AFP.
"It was decided that whatever differences still existed would be resolved in a fast-track manner."
French company Dassault Aviation won the right in 2012 to enter exclusive negotiations with India to supply 126 fighters after lodging a lower bid than rival firm Eurofighter.
The deal would see Dassault supply 18 Rafales - twin-engine multi-role fighters - by 2015.
India, the world's top weapons importer, is in the midst of a $100-billion defence upgrade programme and experts say it urgently needs the jet fighters to maintain a combat edge over nuclear rival Pakistan.
The remaining 108 would be made by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd under technology transfer agreements with India, which is keen to boost homemade defence manufacturing.
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@abreez:
And Maruthi Suzuki Alto : 23kmpl
what's your point?!
@abreez: Thanks for caring for India. I appreciate that Pakistan people care about India's poor population. Keep thinking and pressing our , this will surely help Indian leaders work hard and bring down poverty.
@Pir Roshan: Is that why Indians have adapted the French constitution and asked the French to provide the French pilots as well? I thought the Indian Prime Minister had asked the French to supply them the toilets for human waste. One does that bring technology to the land by buying high tech products but through educational reforms and creating local industries which are run by skilled technicians workers. The Chinese are following the latter.
Rex Minor
@Sadiq: Oh Please! We did "jointly" assembled Mirag 2000 with France, didn't we. They fall from sky all the time, kill our pilots. Please let them do the whole job for us. We can do something else we are good at.
@unbelievable: Rafale has been chosen by Qatar, Canada and UAE recently. Secondly India and US is already in talk to manufacture f35 jointly.
Same replied for same comment which you have posted in dawn also.... lol
@abreez: Why world’s biggest poverty needs all these things Simple answer. This is for your sweeter than honey, higher than mountains, deeper than the oceans friend and co conspirator. Capice?
@Pk_Paris: @abreez
@Pk_Paris should call a spade a spade, and name the country you are alluding to. It's too much asking this guy @abreez to decipher it all by himself. He lacks the intellect to understand the nuances.
I suggest India should keep the money in their neighborhood and buy Pak JF-17. After all these fighter don't crash as often as Russian Mig-19 and French Mirage 2000. India won't be loosing more than 100 pilots a year. Besides, the spare parts are sold next door, so no problem there. I hope Indian arm buyers came to famous Pak Arm Expo in Karachi last week. That show filled few billion dollar worth of orders for dozens of countries who want to protect their poor too, from any attack from neighbor, you know!
@abreez: thank your god. It is impressive to see that abreez speaks truth. 800million are out of poverty and only 400million remain. Don't you think these equipments require personnel to handle. I am sure 100 million will benefit directly or indirectly out of 400 million through these deals. I am sure abreez poverty is being eradicated much more decisively in our country than eradicating polio in your country.
Make in India & technology transfer makes it good investment. These are high tech electronic toys where software plays higher role for efficiency & performance. This will make Indian owner of the technology. This is how you develop smart nations & become world power.
Not sure why India would select an expensive aircraft that every other nation has turned down - an aircraft which is a generation behind the American 35B but cost $50 million more. Also - why buy from a country that has a reputation for extending bribes? I suppose when you answer the last question you have the answer to the first.
@Abreez, Nice homework but let me add one more thing. All these are being bought by India's own money. Not by any aid or IMF loan unlike other neighboring country. On poverty, it is an issue but good thing is that India has acknowledged it & Govt is working on it unlike other neighboring countries, which do not acknowledge any issues. Now Do I have to name that country or you already got it.
@jay1980 If I paint India’s light year ahead picture ET will not print that picture as already ET has a soft corner for Indian, allow every Indian press ‘Recommend’ button multiple time and for me only one chance.
@abreez: Why does the world biggest terror nation need to claim itself as land of the pure? it would be wise for Pakistan to keep a detailed track of how much your army is cornering plots ... Dnt look over the fence,,, the result are for evey one to see,, Indian is light years ahead of Pakistan in most aspects.....ofcoure in terror no one can beat Pakistan !
Dear friends in Pak.. India is arming itself not to attack you. In the 67 years of its existence it has never fired the first shot. The intention is to keep the Chinese in check. That's it,
This major hike in defense sector has enabled Indian military to pursue its long-ambitious procurement deals of Rafale fighter-bombers, submarines, ultra-light howitzer, Javelin anti-tank guided missile and night vision equipment The repercussions of Indian military developments on Pakistan are crystal clear. Pakistan has to rely on its own military muscle to prevent India’s threat of use of force or actual use of force. Having weak economy, Pakistan cannot compete with India in arms race.Under these grave circumstances, however, Pakistan being nuclear power has successfully maintains balance of power. Regional adversaries with accelerative military strength and offensive military doctrines always pose serious threats for the survivability of Pakistan. By looking at the changing international and regional security environment it is essential for Pakistan to secure its territorial integrity, sovereignty both internally and externally. Nuclear weapons in this regard, play a vital role.
oh god it is only as a replacement not additional one it will replace old mig 21 fleet that's all.
Why world’s biggest poverty needs all these things while its 400,000,000 people are living with $37 per month. Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI: 216,MiG-29M: 62,HAL Tejas: 8,Dassault Mirage 2000: 49,Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21: 254,SEPECAT Jaguar: 148,Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27 Bahadur: 79,C-17 Globemaster: 6,Ilyushin Il-76 Candid: 17,C-130J Super Hercules: 5,Hawker Siddeley HS 748: 62,Antonov An-32 Cline: 105,Dornier Do 228: 40,Beriev A-50 Phalcon: 3,EMB-145 AEWCS: 2,Ilyushin Il-78 MKI: 7,Gulfstream III: 3,Mil Mi-35 Hind-E: 20,Mil Mi-8 + Mi-17: 187,Mil Mi-26 Halo: 3 Indian Naval Air Arm Mikoyan MiG-29K: 45,BAE Sea Harrier: 12,Boeing P-8 Poseidon: 6,Tupolev Tu-142: 8,Ilyushin Il-38 May: 6,Dornier Do 228: 26 Indian Army: active personne l: 1,129,900 ,reserve personnel: 960,000 Tanks Arjun MBT: 248,T-90 Tank: 1050,T-72 Tank: 2414 Infantry fighting vehicles BMP-2 "Sarath": 1,800,BMP-1: 750,BMD-2: 200,BMD-1: 300 Armoured Personnel Carriers FV432: 80,BTR-50: 100,BTR-80: 600,OT-64 SKOT: 300,BTR-60: 700,BTR-152: 750 Ballistic and cruise missile Brahmos cruise missile: 300 km range Nirbhay cruise missile: 1000-1500 km range Prahaar ballistic missile: 150 km range Dhanush ballistic missile: 350 km range Sagarika ballistic missile: 700 km range Prithvi-I ballistic missile: 150 km range Prithvi-II ballistic missile: 250-350 km range Prithvi-III ballistic missile: 350-600 km range Shaurya ballistic missile: 700 km range Agni-I ballistic missile: 700-1250 km range Agni-II ballistic missile: 2000-3500 km range Agni-III ballistic missile: 3500-5000 km range Agni-IV ballistic missile: 4000-6000 km range Agni-V ballistic missile: 5000-8000 km range