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India, France discuss defence coop in backdrop of Rafale probs
Against the backdrop of difficulties in negotiations on Rafale fighter deal, top officials of India and France met in Paris during which the issue along with other subjects related to the defence cooperation were discussed.
At the meeting Indo-France High Defence Committee, the Indian side was headed by Defence Secretary R K Mathur while the French side was led by Secretary (International Relations) in Ministry of Defence.
"This is an annual meeting which discusses all issues and matters relating to the defence cooperation between the two sides," sources said here when asked if the Rafale deal was discussed.
India and France have been holding contract negotiations on supply of 126 Rafale planes since 2012 after the fighter aircraft was selected from among five contenders.
The negotiations have lately run into rough weather over a guarantee clause and a steep rise in price.
Making it clear that the ball is in France's court, India is insisting that Dassault Aviation, which manufactures Rafale, will have to meet the conditions of the Request for Proposal (RFP), which it had initially agreed to.
The situation has come to such a level that France has decided to send an empowered delegation later this month to "solve all remaining issues" to salvage the contract.
Recalling the last month's meeting between Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart, sources said the French side was "told categorically to stick to the RFP".
Sources said both Ministers have exchanged letters on the issue in December and an "empowered delegation" would be visiting New Delhi soon.
India, France discuss defence coop in backdrop of Rafale probs | Business Standard News
On The Side Note
Original terms have to be met in Rafale jet deal: Parrikar
NEW DELHI: India on Monday said France would have to adhere to the conditions specified in the original tender for the $20 billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project, even as defence secretary R K Mathur left for Paris amid the deadlock over the mega deal for 126 Rafale fighters.
"The RFP (request for proposal) terms have to be met... they cannot be diluted," defence minister Manohar Parrikar told a television channel. Ruling out any comeback by the fighters which lost out in the MMRCA race, he added, "How can another plane be considered when the L-1 (lowest bidder, the Rafale) has been determined."
As reported by TOI earlier, finalization of the complex MMRCA project has been stuck for almost a year due to French aviation major Dassault's refusal to stand guarantee for the 108 Rafale fighters to be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in India with transfer of technology after the first 18 jets are delivered off-the-shelf to IAF.
Apart from this refusal to take responsibility in terms of liquidity damages and production timelines for the jets to be made in India, the MoD is also upset with Dassault's attempts to "change the price line" that had led to Rafale's selection over the Eurofighter Typhoon as the L-1 three years ago.
Sources said Mathur, on a two-day visit to France, will discuss a wide range of issues, including the need for Dassault to stick to the terms and conditions laid down in the original MMRCA tender or RFP floated in August 2007.
India wants to take a final call on the MMRCA project before Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits France and Germany in April. If Dassault does not honour its commitments made in its bids submitted to the RFP, India may be left with no option but to scrap the entire MMRCA project despite having invested almost a decade in the selection process.
Original terms have to be met in Rafale jet deal: Parrikar - The Times of India
Against the backdrop of difficulties in negotiations on Rafale fighter deal, top officials of India and France met in Paris during which the issue along with other subjects related to the defence cooperation were discussed.
At the meeting Indo-France High Defence Committee, the Indian side was headed by Defence Secretary R K Mathur while the French side was led by Secretary (International Relations) in Ministry of Defence.
"This is an annual meeting which discusses all issues and matters relating to the defence cooperation between the two sides," sources said here when asked if the Rafale deal was discussed.
India and France have been holding contract negotiations on supply of 126 Rafale planes since 2012 after the fighter aircraft was selected from among five contenders.
The negotiations have lately run into rough weather over a guarantee clause and a steep rise in price.
Making it clear that the ball is in France's court, India is insisting that Dassault Aviation, which manufactures Rafale, will have to meet the conditions of the Request for Proposal (RFP), which it had initially agreed to.
The situation has come to such a level that France has decided to send an empowered delegation later this month to "solve all remaining issues" to salvage the contract.
Recalling the last month's meeting between Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart, sources said the French side was "told categorically to stick to the RFP".
Sources said both Ministers have exchanged letters on the issue in December and an "empowered delegation" would be visiting New Delhi soon.
India, France discuss defence coop in backdrop of Rafale probs | Business Standard News
On The Side Note
Original terms have to be met in Rafale jet deal: Parrikar
NEW DELHI: India on Monday said France would have to adhere to the conditions specified in the original tender for the $20 billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project, even as defence secretary R K Mathur left for Paris amid the deadlock over the mega deal for 126 Rafale fighters.
"The RFP (request for proposal) terms have to be met... they cannot be diluted," defence minister Manohar Parrikar told a television channel. Ruling out any comeback by the fighters which lost out in the MMRCA race, he added, "How can another plane be considered when the L-1 (lowest bidder, the Rafale) has been determined."
As reported by TOI earlier, finalization of the complex MMRCA project has been stuck for almost a year due to French aviation major Dassault's refusal to stand guarantee for the 108 Rafale fighters to be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in India with transfer of technology after the first 18 jets are delivered off-the-shelf to IAF.
Apart from this refusal to take responsibility in terms of liquidity damages and production timelines for the jets to be made in India, the MoD is also upset with Dassault's attempts to "change the price line" that had led to Rafale's selection over the Eurofighter Typhoon as the L-1 three years ago.
Sources said Mathur, on a two-day visit to France, will discuss a wide range of issues, including the need for Dassault to stick to the terms and conditions laid down in the original MMRCA tender or RFP floated in August 2007.
India wants to take a final call on the MMRCA project before Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits France and Germany in April. If Dassault does not honour its commitments made in its bids submitted to the RFP, India may be left with no option but to scrap the entire MMRCA project despite having invested almost a decade in the selection process.
Original terms have to be met in Rafale jet deal: Parrikar - The Times of India
