India and France move closer to concluding a Rafale bfighter-jet deal, estimated at around $9 billion, as the two countries have agreed to sign an inter-governmental agreement (IGA), which was one of the obstacles towards an eventual sale.
Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar told parliament Aug. 2 in a written reply that an agreement has been reached to sign the IGA.
In an earlier reply to the Indian parliament, on July 19, Parrikar had said “negotiations are underway and IGA and offset contract are yet to be finalized.”
The Indian defense minister had then said then that the 36 aircraft being procured will have advanced features like Advanced Electronically Scanned Array radar, mid-air refueling and advanced electronic-warfare equipment as part of its design.
The two sides now have finalized the details for weaponry and other modifications to be made on the aircraft, a senior Indian Air Force (IAF) official notified.
The finer details of the offset and cost of the aircraft are still being worked, an MoD official said, adding that those would be completed soon.
By Baishakhi Dutta
