French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is expected to sign the Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft contract with India on August 31.
French publication Tribune reported today that Le Drain would be visiting Malaysia on August 30 probably to get Kuala Lumpur to purchase the two Mistral warships which were recently taken over by France after paying compensation to Russia.
“On the way back the defence minister would be visiting New Delhi to sign the contract for 36 Rafale jets,” the publication said.
There is no confirmation of this information from the Indian side.
French media reported last week that the Indian Rafale contract would be signed in 10 days.
If the information is correct, it brings to an end over five years of India's quest to purchase a Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) and three years of negotiations with Dassaullt.
The Indian Air Force's long standing demand for an urgent purcurement of MMRCA aircraft would have finally been met.