Defence
Rafale-M Jets That Indian Navy Is Buying From France Likely To Cost 5.5 Billion Euros: Report
The Rafale-M fighter jet. (Ann Marie Lazarek/US Navy)
The 26 Dassault Rafale-M fighter jets that the Indian Navy will acquire from France are estimated to cost around €5.5 billion, according to Economic Times.
Just yesterday (10 July), the Defence Procurement Board, headed by the Defence secretary, cleared a proposal to purchase 26 Rafale-M aircraft and three additional scorpene-class submarines for the Indian Navy.
The Defence Acquisition Council, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is expected to convene on 13 July to grant 'acceptance of necessity' for the project.
Some reports indicate that the deal may be announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit, from 13 July-14 July, to France where he will be guest of honour at the Bastille Day military parade.
According to a report by ANI, the deal will include 22 Rafale-M single-seater jets and four Rafale-B double-seater trainer jets, with an estimated cost of around €5.5 billion.
However, the €5.5 billion price is not final, and further cost negotiations will take place after the likely announcement of the deal.
Apart from the 26 Rafale-M jets, acceptance was granted for procuring an additional three scorpene-class submarines, adding to the six already in-operation with the Indian Navy.
The submarines will provide a breather to Navy's already dwindling submarine fleet, as well as, help restart the idle assembly line of the Mazagaon Docks Limited (MDL), following the completion of the construction of the sixth and the last scorpene submarine — INS Vagheer.
These three submarines are projected to cost approximately €4 billion, with an indigenous content close to 60 per cent.
The previous six scorpene submarines, known as the Kalvari class in the Indian Navy, on the other hand, were purchased for $3.5 billion in 2005.
Naval Group, the French designer of the Scorpene submarines, will assist MDL in integrating the air-independent propulsion (AIP) module into the three additional submarines, as well as the six previously built submarines.
INS Kalvari, the first of the Kalvari class, is expected to receive the AIP module during its first refit, scheduled at the end of 2024.
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