MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to discuss a long-disputed deal to buy Rafale fighter jets during his visit to France scheduled for April 10-11, France's Ambassador to India Francois Richier told Sputnik Tuesday.
"Only thing I can say on Rafale is that the deal is on. Rafale deal will be on the agenda of talks during Indian Prime Minister Modi's visit to France," Richier said.
The diplomat declined to give any further details.
Earlier, Indian media reported that New Delhi might pull out of the $20-billion deal with the French Dassault Aviation Company on an acquisition of 126 Rafale fighters.
In 2012 the Dassault Aviation won a bid to supply 126 Rafale fighter jets to India but the purchase was delayed over high costs and the company's refusal to guarantee the performance of Rafales produced in India.
Russian and British fighter jets have been tipped as a possible replacement for the Rafale jets if the deal should be scrapped.
