India has cleared the purchase of 26 Rafale M naval fighters from France, and the deal could be announced as early as Friday, according to local media reports, during France’s Bastille Day national holiday, for which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the guest of honor. India is also providing a marching contingent for the military parade in Paris marking the holiday.
In addition to the Rafales, India’s Defence Procurement Board (DPP) on Monday also approved the procurement of three additional Scorpène-class diesel-electric submarines, in addition to the six that India’s Mazagon Docks has just completed, and which are known as the Kalvari class in Indian Navy service.
Indian media reported that the combined value of the two deals could attain 90,000 crore rupees (approx. $10.9 billion), but the final value will depend on the financial negotiations that will follow the announcement. Both deals will be government-to-government sales, in which the French government guarantees the price and conformity of the weapons it orders from its suppliers and provides to India.
Industry sources said for the Rafale M deal, India and France are expected to form a joint team to negotiate the deal like it was done for the previous Rafale deal for 36 fighter aircraft, the Economic Times reported Monday.