Most of the hitches in the negotiations with France for the direct purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets have been addressed, and the remaining issues will be taken up at the next meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC).
“I can only tell you that most of the hitches have been addressed. A few things will be addressed when the matter possibly comes up before the DAC at the next meeting, and I think thereafter the road shall be clear,” Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh said on Tuesday speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a Air Force-CII seminar on Make in India.
The next meeting of the DAC, the highest decision-making body in the Defence Ministry, is likely to be chaired by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on April 21.
India and France have been holding talks for a year to conclude a government-to-government deal.
In January this year, both sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding during the visit of French President Francois Hollande to India. But the final agreement did not materialise owing to the differences over pricing.
Asked about reports late last week that the deal was finalised, Mr. Singh said he too heard it from the media.
Mr. Singh said there was need for both the Rafale and the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas as they are in different categories and bring different capabilities.
Speaking at the event, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said the induction of the LCA was on track and the first squadron would be operationalised by the end of this year.
