High level French delegation to arrive in New Delhi on May 30 for 26 Rafale Marine jet deal

New Delhi: A high level French delegation will arrive in the national capital on May 30, to negotiate for the Rs 50,000-crore deal for 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets.

The French delegation is scheduled to meet with their counterparts in the Ministry of Defence to begin official negotiations in the jet deal for the Indian Navy.

The high level delegation will include officials from their defence ministry and industry including original equipment manufacturers Dassault Aviation and Thales, the officials said.

The Indian side would include members from the defence acquisition wing and the Indian Navy.

Sources in the government said they would try to complete negotiations with France and sign the agreement by the end of this financial year.

In December, France had submitted its response to India’s tender for 26 Rafale Marine jets for the Navy’s aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. The response to India’s Letter of Acceptance was submitted in New Delhi.

The Indian side has carried out a detailed study of the French bid for the Indian deal including the commercial offer or price for the aircraft, along with other details of the contract, they said.

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