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New Delhi. Decisive progress is expected on the Rafale aircraft deal during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France. Sources say that talks with France regarding the manufacturing of fighter planes under the terms of Make in India have reached the final stage. France may agree to indigenously install half the material in Rafale.

The Prime Minister is visiting France and Slovakia from June 13-18. During this time he will participate in the G-7 summit in France and will also hold bilateral talks with President Emmanuel Macron. During this time, eyes are on the announcement of the Rafale agreement. India has taken a formal decision to purchase 114 Rafale fighter aircraft from France. These aircraft are to be purchased at a cost of about Rs 3.25 lakh crore. Of these, 18 aircraft are to be flown from France while 96 aircraft are to be manufactured in India. India wants the 96 aircraft to be manufactured in India as per the provisions of Make in India. That means minimum 50 percent indigenous material should be used in the planes.

In other words, half of the aircraft’s material should be made in India. But in February, when French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin had come to India, the Rafale deal was discussed during the meeting with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. Then he said that he would use only 25-30 percent material made in India, but Singh bluntly said that at least 50 percent Indian material should be used, which is an important requirement of Make in India. Due to this, the deal could not be finalized then, otherwise it would have been announced only then because President Macron was also in India at that time. But now again an opportunity is arising. If this consensus is reached by the time of the Prime Minister’s visit, then the agreement can also be announced during this period.

Rafale enough for India’s needs

Rafale is a 4.5 generation state-of-the-art aircraft. Although the fifth generation fighter aircraft has arrived, Indian experts say that the only fundamental difference between the 4.5 and 5th generation aircraft is their ability to evade radar. But this feature is not important for India because the borders of its enemy countries are close, hence the need to avoid radar will not benefit it.

Sukhoi-57 path also opened

Russia has offered India to jointly produce its fifth generation stealth fighter jet Sukhoi-57 and share the entire technology. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is ready to develop this aircraft in collaboration with India without any technical restrictions.

Difference between 4.5 and 5th generation fighter aircraft

Stealth Capability: These are protected by electronic jamming rather than completely hiding from radar.
Weapons: Uses external weapons and fuel tanks.
Supercruise: Some aircraft can achieve supersonic speeds without afterburner.
Example: India’s Rafale, Russia’s SU-35, America’s F-15EX
Stealth Capability: Their special external shape and radar-absorbing paint make them invisible.
Weapons: Weapons and fuel are kept in compartments inside the aircraft.
Supercruise: They fly at supersonic speed without afterburner.
Example: America’s F-35, China’s J-20, Russia’s SU-57