Indian AF Chief Visits Rafale as Talks Continue With Dassault

May. 22, 2012 - 01:29PM   |   By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI

http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120522/DEFREG03/305220006/Indian-AF-Chief-Visits-Rafale-Talks-Continue-Dassault?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

NEW DELHI — Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, head of the Indian Air Force, is visiting France, where he is getting a close look at the Rafale, India’s choice for its Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA).

“At St. Dizier, he would be visiting the Rafale squadron to get a first-hand impression of the MMRCA selected by the IAF, and also to see Rafale’s production facilities at Mérignac, besides overseeing the progress of the various projects being carried forward as joint ventures between the two countries,” the Indian Defence Ministry said in a news release.

The official release refers to the Rafale as the “MMRCA selected by the IAF,” but a senior Defence Ministry official here noted that Rafale is only the short-listed aircraft for the MMRCA program, and that negotiations are still underway with French company Dassault, which builds the Rafale.

The Indian Defence Ministry short listed Rafale over the Eurofighter Typhoon earlier this year, but the contract has yet to be signed. Under the deal, the Air Force will buy 126 fighter aircraft at a cost of more than $11 billion.

Browne is also having a first-hand look at the upgrade of India’s Mirage 2000H fighter aircraft, being undertaken by French company Thales under a $2.2 deal signed last year.

“He would also be interacting with the IAF’s Project Management Team members for the Mirage 2000 Upgrade Project,” according to the ministry’s release. “The visit is significant, as it is the first high-level official visit from India to France after the new [Paris] government has taken office.