[ad_1]
India on Thursday approved proposals to buy 26 Rafale jets from France and buy three French-designed Scorpene submarines, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s wide-ranging talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the two major procurement projects, which are expected to cost in the range of Rs 80,000 to Rs 85,000 crore and are set to significantly enhance India’s offshore platforms. Overall military prowess.
The Ministry of Defense said that the purchase of the Rafale aircraft, along with associated auxiliary equipment, including weapon systems and spare parts, will be on the basis of an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) and this price and other purchase terms will be negotiated with the French government after acceptance. Account for all relevant aspects.
India and France are expected to announce the two giant procurement projects after wide-ranging talks between Modi and Macron on Friday as the two sides seek further expansion of their already close strategic and defense ties.
The DAC, the Defense Ministry’s top body for military procurement, approved the purchase on a day when Modi began his two-day visit to Paris primarily to honor the annual Bastille Day parade as guest of honour.
Indian and French officials are also in talks with major French defense firm Safran, which is collaborating with an Indian defense manufacturer to develop a fighter jet in India to power the country’s next-generation aircraft including the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
“The DAC has granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft along with additional equipment, weapons, simulators, spare parts, documentation, crew training and logistical support for the Indian Navy from the French government on the basis of an intergovernmental agreement,” the MoD said.
It said the price and other purchase terms would be negotiated with the French government after taking into account all relevant aspects, including the comparative purchase price of similar aircraft by other countries.
“Furthermore, the integration of Indian designed equipment and establishment of a Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) center for various systems will be included in the contract documents after due negotiation,” the company said in a statement.
Defense establishment sources said four of the 26 Rafale-M aircraft, the naval variant of the deck-based platform, will be trainers.
They said deliveries of the aircraft, which will be built by French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation, will begin within three years of signing the contract, adding that it could take nearly a year to finalize the final deal as detailed negotiations over pricing will take place. proceed.
The purchase of the three Scorpene-class submarines will be a follow-up order.
Under Indian Navy Project 75, Six Scorpene-class submarines already have it It was built in India by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in association with the Naval Group of France.
“DAC has also granted AoN to purchase three additional Scorpene-class submarines under Buy (Indian) category which will be built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL),” the ministry said.
It said the purchase of additional submarines, with higher indigenous content, would not only help maintain the required level of force and operational readiness of the Indian Navy, but also create significant job opportunities in the local sector.
“It will also help MDL further enhance its submarine building capability and expertise,” she added.
India is purchasing Rafales and submarines to boost its overall naval prowess amid China’s increasing forays into the Indian Ocean.
Five of the six Scorpene-class submarines are already operational, and the sixth is scheduled to be commissioned early next year.
At present, the Navy has 16 conventional submarines, of which five are new. The Navy plans to gradually remove the elderly from the service.
The ministry said the DAC approved another proposal to establish guidelines for achieving “required original content in all classes of capital acquisition cases.”
It will help achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in critical manufacturing technologies and support the life cycle of defense platforms/equipment through local manufacturing,” she added.
The Indian Navy is looking to purchase 26 deck fighter aircraft for the home-made INS Vikrant aircraft carrier.
After a lengthy process, the Navy has narrowed down Dassault Aviation’s Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet and Rafale M aircraft for purchase.
Later, the Rafale-M emerged as a winner in the tight race.
India has already bought 36 Rafale jets from France for the Indian Air Force, in its first major acquisition of fighter jets in 23 years after importing Sukhoi jets from Russia.
[ad_2]
