French leaders welcome India’s choice of French jets
India/implementation of the Rafale project – Reply given by François Fillon, Prime Minister, to a question in the National Assembly (excerpts)
Paris, 31 January 2012
It is indeed very good news for the company Dassault, for France and for French industry. (…)
We could share together the honour India has done our country in choosing this plane. It’s especially good news because the competition was extremely tough: we were, of course, up against the American aeronautical industry, whose costs, as everyone knows, are lower than ours due to the level of the dollar but also to national production on a larger scale; we were also in competition with the Russian aeronautical industry, the Swedish aeronautical industry and, in the final straight, with Eurofighter.
It’s the first time the company Dassault and France have managed to sell this plane abroad. It’s a reward for the excellence of the French aeronautical industry, the tenacity of both the manufacturer and the French government, but also the personal commitment of President Sarkozy, who wanted India to be engaged with France in a strategic partnership, which has led to our discussing today not only the supply of fighter planes but also the construction of two EPR nuclear reactors. It gives you an idea of how promising the ties, the relations between France and that great emerging country are for the future. (…)./.
India/implementation of Rafale project - Communiqué issued by the Presidency of the Republic
Paris, 31 January 2012
President Sarkozy has learned of India’s selection of the Rafale with a view to the Indian air force acquiring 126 fighter planes.
France welcomes the Indian government’s decision to select the French plane and enter into exclusive negotiations with Dassault.
This announcement comes following a very high-level, fair and transparent competition between two European finalists. The Rafale was selected thanks to the competitiveness of its total cost over the aircraft’s lifetime, after being shortlisted in April 2011 on the basis of its top-level operational qualities.
Negotiation of the contract will begin very shortly, with the French authorities’ full support. It will include major technology transfers guaranteed by the French state.
The implementation of the Rafale project will illustrate the depth and breadth of the strategic partnership between France and India./.