NSA-level meet today, France keen to sell second batch of 36 Rafales

Sources said that the meeting at the level of NSA will be the first high-level contact a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Macron held bilateral talks in Paris, and then again met in Biarritz during the G-7 summit.

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Sources said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to visit France in the latter half of September for the handing over of the first of 36 Rafale fighter jets — the first aircraft is likely to be delivered in the third week of September.

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Indian Air Force pilots will be trained for the next few months in France before the Rafale aircraft are sent to India, it is learnt.

Besides the first batch of 36 Rafale aircraft, France is interested in bagging procurement order for a second batch of 36 more, sources said. Terms and conditions of the next batch is yet to be confirmed, but it is expected to have “Make in India” component, as against the first 36 which are to be procured in a “flyaway condition”.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a meeting at the Chateau of Chantilly, near Paris, France (Reuters/File)

France is also looking at selling helicopters for the Coast Guard and the Navy, besides submarines and new engines for jet fighters, among the next set of defence equipment.

The delivery of the first Rafale combat aircraft from this year was the key takeaway in the India-France joint statement.

Sources said Modi and Macron had noted with “satisfaction” the progress in implementation of agreements signed, reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen cooperation in the field of defence industry, and extended their support to partnerships between defence companies of the two countries in the spirit of “Make in India” and for mutual benefit of both.

While the new helicopters for the Coast Guard will be Caracal — the number is likely to be between 16 and 18 — the helicopters for the Navy will be Panther, sources said. The two sides are learnt to have come very close to signing the orders for new Caracal helicopters for the Coast Guard last year, but could not do so due to the not-so-conducive conditions, ostensibly given the political climate over Rafale aircraft, and New Delhi’s seeming reluctance to sign the deal before the Lok Sabha elections this summer.

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Doval and Bonne will also discuss opportunities for collaboration on defence, nuclear, security and space during their talks.

While this is the 32nd round of consultations at the NSA level, it offers an opportunity to follow up on a more realistic and pragmatic terms since it comes right after the PM’s visit to France.