The deliveries of Dassault Rafale fighter jets India ordered will commence from September 2019.
An Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) along with Aircraft & Weapons Package Supply Protocols and Technical Arrangement were signed with the French Government on 23rd September, 2016 for procurement of 36 Rafale aircraft in fly-away condition. The deliveries will commence from September, 2019.
This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said in a reply to a question in the Parliament Friday.
The delivery of the 36 Rafale fighters India has ordered from France may arrive ‘slightly earlier’ than the scheduled time of 36 months, Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar had said on October 3, this year.
The fighter jets will come equipped with latest missiles and weapon system besides multiple specific modifications to suit Indian Air Force.
The ‘vanila price’ (just of the aircraft alone) will cost about €91 million each for a single seater and about €94 million for a two seater trainer aircraft.