“There should be two other export contracts for the Rafale by the beginning of next year,” not including India, the source said as quoted by Reuters. “The most advanced discussions are with Malaysia and the UAE.”
The source added that France is aiming to sell 16 Rafale aircraft to the Malaysian military.
Since the beginning of the year, France has delivered 24 Rafales each to Egypt and Qatar and is in talks to finalize the sale of another 36 to India.
Dassault Rafale (English "squall") is French fourth-generation multirole jet fighter designed by Dassault Aviation. It conducted its maiden flight in 1986 and joined the French Navy and Air Force in 2004 and 2006 respectively.
Since the beginning of the year, France has delivered 24 Rafales each to Egypt and Qatar and is in talks to finalize the sale of another 36 to India.
New Delhi and Paris have started negotiating on the terms and conditions of India's purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France, Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar said earlier this month.
“A Negotiating Team has been constituted by the Government to negotiate the terms and conditions of the procurement of 36 Rafale jets and recommend the draft agreement. The meetings of the Indian Negotiating Team with the French team have commenced,” Parrikar said in a written reply to a question by a member of the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
In June, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that a deal on India’s purchase of French-made Rafale jets could be reached within the next two-three months. Eric Trappier, the head of the Rafale manufacturer Dassault Aviation, had earlier expressed hope that the deal would be finalized before the end of 2015.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the agreement between his country and France on the purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft in April. Initially India planned to buy 126 Rafale jets.
The Rafale (English “squall”) is a multirole fighter jet which can be used for reconnaissance and nuclear strike missions.
The Rafale is a French fourth-generation multirole jet fighter designed by Dassault Aviation. It conducted its maiden flight in 1986 and joined the French Navy and Air Force in 2004 and 2006 respectively.
Source: Reuters
