India, France to Sign Rs.63,000 Crore Deal for Rafale Marine Combat Aircraft
Today in Delhi, India and France are scheduled to sign a Rs.63,000 crore agreement for 26 Rafale Marine combat aircraft.
The signing event will be attended by representatives of the two sides, including the French Ambassador to India and officials from the defense ministry.
According to reports, French and Indian defense ministers are anticipated to attend virtually, while Indian defense secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh is anticipated to represent the country.
Earlier this month, the contract was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security.
The deployment of the 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets on Indian aircraft carriers, especially the currently operational INS Vikrant, is urgently needed. According to reports, maintenance-related problems have caused the current fleet of MiG-29K aircraft to perform poorly.
The Rafale M planes will be installed into INS Vikrant after being modified to appeal to Indian specifications. Until the development of an indigenous carrier-borne fighter jet is finished, these fighters are being purchased as a temporary fix.
Reports claim that the signing ceremony would probably take place outside the South Block offices of the Defense Ministry.
It is anticipated that the French Minister will land in India on Sunday night and leave late on Monday night.
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Earlier this month on April 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security that approved India's largest-ever defense contract for 26 Rafale Marine combat aircraft.