India Coaxes France Into Selling its Air-to-Air Missile Equipped Rafale

Some procedural work could take little more time for signing of 36 Rafale deal between India and France

New Delhi (Sputnik) — India and France are still working on preparing a  fresh Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for 36 Rafale combat aircraft.

Sources told Sputnik that following negotiations, officials from both countries are finalizing documents which will be placed before Cabinet Committee of Security, India’s topmost approving authority, for final approval.

However, it is not clear that whether the IGA requires fresh approval from the Law Ministry or not. The Ministry of Law & Justice had made certain observations regarding the arbitration and liability clause in case of breach of contract.

Sources told Sputnik that the Rafale would be equipped with Meteor beyond-visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM). Meteor is seen as the most lethal radar guided air-to-air missile in operational service in the world. It is claimed that its dual rocket and ramjet propulsion system continues to provide power and acceleration even at its maximum range.

During his visit to France in April last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India would purchase 36 Rafale jets in a government-to-government contract. Soon after the announcement, the defense ministry scrapped a separate process that to purchase 126 Rafale fighter planes, built by French defense giant Dassault Aviation.