Nella gara per l’acquisizione di nuovi caccia per l’aeronautica indiana il governo di Nuova Delhi ha optato per il velivolo francese Rafale, preferendolo al Thyphoon.

India has selected the French firm Dassault over the Eurofighter consortium as the preferred bidder for 126 fighter jets in a major contract estimated to be worth $12 billion.

Dassault won the right to enter exclusive negotiations with India after lodging a lower bid than its European rival in the world’s biggest single defence deal currently in process, an Indian government source told AFP on Tuesday.

Dassault, whose Rafale fighter had been pitted against the Eurofighter Typhoon, said it was “honoured and grateful” to be selected and stressed its commitment to meeting the “operational requirements” of the Indian Air Force.

The French government welcomed the news, but added that the final contract had yet to be signed.

“At this stage – and I want to be cautious – we are in a phase of exclusive negotiations,” French Minister of State for Foreign Trade Pierre Lellouche told France’s BFM radio (…)

James Hardy, Asia-Pacific editor of Jane’s Defence Weekly, said the decision was “a big win for the Rafale” but warned that the French side faced a period of tough negotiation.

“Rafale has been selected as the preferred bidder but any student of Indian procurement knows that this means nothing until the contract is physically signed,” Hardy said.

 

PS ringrazio SG per la gentile segnalazione.