Dassault Aviation hopes to sell additional Rafale jets to India

The Dollar Business Bureau

French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation SA is hoping to begin talks with India by this year’s end for additional salesof Rafale fighter aircrafts, before full-fledge negotiations begin next year, said Eric Trappier, Chief Executive Officer, Dassault Aviation on Sunday.

Dassault Aviation was awaiting further information on its fighter planes deal from Canada, he said.

Last week, Canada has said that it was reviewing its plans to purchase military equipment from the US planemaker - Boeing Company after it filed a trade complaint claiming that Canadian multinational Bombardier Inc had dumped aircrafts into the American market.

In November last year, Canada said that it wanted to purchase 18 Super Hornets fighter jets from Boeing as a stopgap move while it set a competition for replacing its ageing fleet of fighter aircrafts.

Canada has also held discussions with Lockheed Martin, Eurofighter and Saab, as per industry sources.

Dassault Aviation has signed a long-awaited deal with India in September 2016 for supplying 36 Rafale fighter aircrafts for around $8.7 billion.

Trappier said the company was working on an additional order for the Indian air force and also a tender for 57 aircrafts for the Indian navy.

Boeing Co is also in competition for the deal with Indian navy.

“There is no negotiation, we are not there yet: we are waiting for a one-to-one discussion,” Trappier said, while hoping that talks would start at the end of year before full negotiations in 2018.