Rafale deal to be discussed during French minister's India visit

India's proposed purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets in fly away condition, announced by Prime Minster Narendra Modi in Paris last month, will begin to take concrete shape during formal negotiations between Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his visiting French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian here on Wednesday.

Le Drian will pursue with Parrikar the discussions on security and defence held during the official visit to France of Modi from April 9-12 and his meeting with President Francois Hollande, including negotiations for the acquisition of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft. The aim is to launch negotiations pursuant to the Indo-French Joint Statement of April 10, a statement from the French embassy here said.

The visit of Le Drian follows the 14th edition of the "Varuna" exercise between the Indian and French navies, conducted from April 28 to May 2, off India's western coast with the carrier battle groups of the two countries, the statement said.

Le Drian is to be accompanied by senior officials as well as a team from Dassault, the manufacturer of Rafale. The Rafale deal for 36 jets is estimated to cost over five billion euros (around Rs.35,000 crore).

A bilateral government-to-government committee is to be set up to iron out details of the agreement.