India-Rafale Deal Could Be Concluded By March 2015, Says Dassault CEO

The Indian MMRCA deal with Dassault is expected to be concluded by the end of this fiscal year, according to Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier.

The final phase of exclusive negotiations on the contract, estimated at $15 billion, should conclude within India's current budget year ending in March 2015, Trappier told reporters in Paris, according to local media.

Dassault won the MMRCA deal to supply 126 fighters to India in 2012 after lodging a lower bid than Eurofighter for a tender with an estimated value of $12 billion.

Negotiations between India and France have been dragging for over two years since the French company was declared the finalist in the $11 billion program to purchase the Rafale fighter planes.

Dassault has had reservations over HAL's capacity to absorb complex technology and wanted to rope in other private sector companies for manufacturing the jets in India. However, New Delhi has always maintained that HAL would remain a lead player.

Offset hurdles have been the major road block to signing the deal. In 2013, Dassault wrote to the Indian MoD demanding it be given the overall responsibility of the project and clearly identify HALs role.

Despite the ministry asserting that HAL would act as the project’s ‘lead-integrator’ as per the terms of the RFI issued in 2007, Dassault in its letter insisted that it be given the freedom to decide on the quantum of work to be shared between companies.

According to the original terms, 18 of the 126 planes are to be purchased directly from Dassault, while HAL will manufacture the other 108 under a licence at an upcoming facility in Bangalore.

The Rafale showcased its capabilities to the Indian Air Force while participating for the first time in the Garuda V exercises against the Indian Air Force’s Su-30s in June.

“The Rafale is like a Swiss knife — it can do everything,” said France’s ambassador Francois Richier told reporters during the exercise.