French minister to push for Rafale deal

French Defence Minister Jaen Yves Le Drian is scheduled to visit Delhi later this week, giving rise to speculations of “forward movement” in India’s biggest defence deal to purchase 126 fighter jets from France.

For the last two years, India and France are locked in price negotiation to purchase the medium multi-role fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF). French major Dassault Aviation’s Rafale fighter planes were selected to replace ageing MiG-21s.

The much-awaited deal, sources said, is on the agenda of bilateral talks between Le Drian and his Indian counterpart A K Antony, including National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon, between July 25-27.

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