France has submitted the final price proposal to India for the 26 Rafale sea jet deal, just ahead of the scheduled visit of Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to the country.
Defense sources told ANI that the best and final price proposal for the project has been submitted by the French side to the Indian authorities and the proposed contract has given a significant price reduction after tough negotiations.
India and France are negotiating a deal to buy 26 Rafale marine jets that will be deployed on the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and various bases.
The two sides had also held talks last week when a French team was in the national capital to finalize discussions with India.
The deal is to be discussed during the India-France strategic dialogue, where Indian NSAs are scheduled to meet their French counterparts in Paris tomorrow.
The deal is important for the Indian Navy as it looks to strengthen its maritime strike capability.
India has also approved deviations in the letter of request, which is the equivalent tender document in government-to-government deals, such as the integration of the indigenous Uttam radar into jets for the Indian Navy.
Sources said that unification will take a long time of about eight years and the French side will also have to pay a high price to do so.
India had also asked France to include indigenous weapons in the aircraft. This includes Astra missiles beyond visual range as well as Rudram anti-radiation missiles.
Sources said the deal price is based on agreements taking into account inflation rates and the previous deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force will be used as a base.
The Navy deal also covers some of the Indian Air Force’s requirements which will include around 40 drop tanks and a small number of work stations for the aircraft.
The Indian side is also going to get a larger number of long-range air-to-air Meteor missiles and anti-ship weapons, with the project planned to be completed before the end of this financial year.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
