Negotiations for a significant deal between Bharat and France start as a high-level French team arrives in New Delhi on May 30. The deal, valued at over Rs 50,000 crore, involves the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers.
The French delegation, comprising officials from both the defence ministry and industry giants like Dassault Aviation and Thales, is set to engage with counterparts from the Indian Defence Ministry. These discussions mark a significant step in bolstering defence cooperation between the two nations.
The Dassault Rafale, renowned for its advanced capabilities, is poised to become a cornerstone of Bharat’s naval aviation.
Designed to perform a wide array of missions, from air superiority to ground support and nuclear deterrence, the Rafale Marine variant is tailored for operations from aircraft carriers.
The Rafale Marine, akin to its land-based counterpart, increases enhancements to facilitate operations from CATOBAR-equipped aircraft carriers.
With a reinforced airframe and specialized landing gear, it is engineered to tackle the challenges of carrier-based operations.
France’s submission of its response to Bharat’s tender underscores the Rafale Marine’s proven interoperability with carrier fleets. Notably, it’s the sole non-US fighter cleared for operations from US carriers, a testament to its adaptability and performance.
Having conducted a comprehensive evaluation of France’s bid, Bharat now embarks on negotiations aimed at finalizing the terms of the government-to-government contract.
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