New Delhi: The Indian Navy is putting together a team with the defence ministry to negotiate the terms and conditions of the contract, which is expected to cost over 5 billion Euros (Rs 45,000 crore). The Indian Navy’s massive project to purchase 26 Rafale Marine fighters has been given the go-ahead.
According to sources in the defence and security establishment, the French side will be led by its defence ministry, while the negotiating team will be under the command of a senior naval commander.
After considering all pertinent factors, the two parties will negotiate the purchase price and other arrangements.

Incidentally, the French Navy only operates the Rafale Marine. There are India-specific requirements that will also be discussed and firmed up between the two sides.

Furthermore, integration of Indian designed equipment and establishment of Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO) hub for various systems will be incorporated into the contract documents after due negotiations.
As reported earlier, a formal deal will only be signed after the new government is sworn in next year because the whole process will take that much time.

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France last week, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had given the nod to the Naval project which will include the procurement of 22 Rafale Marine and 4 trainer aircraft for the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

The possible Rafale Marine purchase was not mentioned in the joint statement India and France issued after Modi’s meeting with Emmanuel Macron. Nevertheless, Modi made a brief reference to cooperating with naval fighters while speaking to the media.
France has become into an important defence partner for India, with collaboration spanning everything from space exploration to submarines. France overcame the US to overtake the US as India’s second-largest arms supplier between 2018 and 2022, according to a study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which has offices in Sweden. This represents a gain of 489% from the 2013–17 period.