New Delhi. The process of negotiations is going on between India and France regarding the purchase of Rafale aircraft. Meanwhile, India has placed a condition regarding which France is in a dilemma. India has said that it will install indigenously developed weapons systems in these fighter planes. However, France is not ready for this yet. Sources say that India has bluntly told France that if this condition is not accepted then the deal cannot be done.
A senior Air Force official associated with the Rafale fighter aircraft procurement process said that under the agreement, 18 aircraft are to be manufactured in France, while 96 aircraft are to be manufactured in India. India wants to install indigenous defense systems i.e. indigenously manufactured missiles, radars etc. in these aircraft.
France does not agree
At the same time, France says that India should also get the defense systems to be added to Rafale from France. In the ongoing talks regarding this, India has clearly indicated that India is increasingly becoming self-reliant in the defense sector and is giving preference to indigenous weapons. In such a situation, France will have to accept this condition. This has brought a new twist in the Rafale deal.
there should be no objection
An Air Force official said that France should not have any objection to installing Indian weapon system in Rafale without giving the source code.
France was ready for 50% indigenous content
Earlier, India had placed a condition that in the 96 Rafale aircraft which will be manufactured in India, 50 percent indigenous material will be used. France was not ready for this at first, but later it accepted it. Recently Air Force Chief A.P. Singh has said that the Rafale deal between India and France can be done by the end of this financial year. A decision on this is expected to be taken soon.
Dassault Aviation does not want to give the source code
According to sources, Dassault Aviation, the company manufacturing Rafale planes, is not ready to accept India's condition because it will have to give the source code for it. Source code is the software that is responsible for the operation of the aircraft as well as every system installed in it. If India gets the source code, then India can also make aircraft like Rafale itself. That's why Dassault is not ready.
India capable of deploying weapons without code
The Air Force believes that no company ever gives its source code to the buyer. In such a situation, Dassault Aviation's stance is natural. According to the Air Force, India is not even demanding the source code from Dassault. Air Force sources said, 'We have told France that we are capable of installing Indian weapon systems in Rafale even without the source code. Air Force and DRDO have found a way out.