India-France deal for 114 Rafale fighters is under threat of collapse
Kyiv • UNN
Negotiations on the purchase of 114 Rafale fighters have reached a deadlock due to disagreements over weapon integration conditions. The delay benefits Ukraine by shortening the queue.
Negotiations between India and France on the purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets worth tens of billions of euros have reached a deadlock. Defense Express reports this, as written by UNN.
Details
According to sources, New Delhi may completely abandon the deal due to disagreements with Paris regarding the terms of aircraft use.
India insists on the right to integrate its own armament and obtain technical access to the aircraft's systems. This aligns with the strategy for developing the national defense-industrial complex.
France does not agree to such conditions, particularly due to risks of transferring sensitive technologies. One of the reasons cited is India's close ties with Russia, which poses a threat of data leakage.
Consequences
The parties have not yet reached a compromise, and the negotiations are effectively stalled.
At the same time, according to experts, the delay in the Indian contract could be beneficial for Ukraine, which is also considering purchasing Rafale fighter jets, as this potentially shortens the production queue.