Rafale is a twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) designed and built by Dassault Aviation, a French firm. The fighter jets are capable of performing a wide range of combat roles.
In September 2016, India and France signed a 7.87 billion (at Rs. 59,000 crore) Inter-governmental Agreement (IGA) for 36 Refale multi-role fighter jets in “flyaway condition” (prepared for immediate flight). The deal also included a 50% offset clause to be executed by Dassault Aviation in partnership with Indian companies. That is, in exchange for landing the contract for the 36 fighter jets, Dassault has to invest half the value of the deal – about Rs.30,000 crores – in Indian firms. The Reliance Defence Limited has been chosen as the offset partner.
As per the IGA, deliveries were to begin 36 months from signing of the contract and Dassault has almost met the deadline.
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