HAL, Dassault Aviation discuss Rafale aircraft deal

Carrying out discussions in the multi-billion dollar deal for 126 Rafale combat aircraft, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and French Dassault Aviation today reviewed the progress of their ongoing projects at the Paris air show.
"At the Paris Airshow, HAL top brass met with top executives of Dassault Aviation to review the progress in ongoing projects," an HAL release said here.
"The two teams expressed satisfaction on the work already achieved by the integrated teams and renewed their commitment towards successful completion of the various projects," it said.
For the Indian tender for 126 multirole combat aircraft, the government has selected the French firm for supplying its Rafale aircraft.

If the deal is signed, 18 of the 126 aircraft would be produced at Dassault Aviation facilities in France while the remaining would be done at the HAL facilities in Bangalore.
Earlier in the project, Dassault Aviation had sought clarification from the Defence Ministry over the role of HAL in integration of the aircraft.
The ministry had rejected any demands for changing the role of HAL in the project saying that it would remain the lead integrator in the programme as per the Request for Proposal issued for the project.