India, France Finalizes Deal to Purchase 36 Rafale Fighter Jets

Mr. Hollande observed that the Rafale deal represented two things – the trust India has in the French industry and the trust France has in sharing technologies with India.

“Both of us have also agreed to sort out the financial aspect of the deal quickly”, said Modi.

Rafalle deal was one of the important points in the agenda of both the countries, raising expectations that the French President’s visit may lead up to the culmination of the deal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, during his visit to Paris last April, announced the decision on direct purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets.

French President Francois Hollande, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands as they pose before the start of a delegation level meeting in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016.

In a joint statement the two leaders welcomed “the conclusion of the Inter-governmental Agreement (IGA) on the acquisition of 36 Rafale fighter aircrafts in flyaway condition, except for some financial issues”.

It further said that India and France will cooperate to disrupt recruitment, terrorist movements and flow of Foreign Terrorist Fighters, stop sources of terrorist financing, dismantle terrorist infrastructure and prevent supply of arms to terrorists, “To this end, they committed to further develop exchanges in the fields of intelligence, finance, justice and police”.

Modi and Hollande’s talks will also focus on ways to increase security and intelligence cooperation, driven in part by the attack in Paris by Islamist extremists that claimed 130 lives in November.

Hollande and Modi stepped into the deal past year, ordering government-to-government talks after commercial negotiations with planemaker Dassault Aviation had collapsed.

“From nuclear cooperation to railway locomotives, we are sowing the seeds of an ever-tightening web of cooperation between our two countries, ” Modi said.

“The Rafale is a major project for India and France”.

Hollande’s visit is seen as a signal of growing political and strategic ties between the two countries.

Francois Hollade is the guest of honour at the Republic day parade at Rajpath tomorrow.

Hollande, who arrived in India on Sunday, will also lay the foundation stone of the headquarters of ISA, which is aimed at increasing utilisation and promotion of solar energy in solar-rich nations.