India will "probably" signed the contract for the Rafale by Dassault CEO Eric Trappier

Eric Trappier is very confident. According to the head of the advocacy group, the contract could be signed in late 2013.

 

Dassault Aviation was convinced Friday, June 14 to sign the contract of sale of the Rafale fighter with India, both parties wish to conclude this year according to him.

The CEO of Dassault, Eric Trappier, also revealed that he discussed for several months with the European group EADS and Italy's Finmeccanica on what could be a surveillance drone European type MALE (medium altitude, long endurance).

"India was the first export customer of Dassault in the 50s, it will surely also the first to sign the (contract) Rafale," said the CEO of Dassault, Eric Trappier at a press conference in Paris.

"We hope to go as soon as possible. If we listen to our Indian friends and if we listen to ourselves, we would like to finish in 2013, is finally sign a contract," said the new boss who took control the manufacturer at the beginning of the year.

Discussions on the implementation of production

India has chosen the Rafale in January 2012 after a call for tenders for 126 units and an optional additional 63 aircraft. "Discussions are underway on this option," said Eric Trappier.

Refusing to enter detailed negotiations, Eric Trappier simply said they were going "in a very good mood", including the division of responsibilities between France and India on the one hand and industrial and French India on the other. "There has never been a lock," he said.

Turning to the question of MALE UAVs that European nations currently buying in Israel and the United States, Eric Trappier said that European industrial could not develop without controls States, but they were willing to cooperate.

France will buy 12 U.S. drone

"In recent months we exchange especially with EADS and Finmeccanica to see how we could organize if there was a (government) European program. If there was a European program, there would be no problem these companies to agree there, "he assured.

The French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced this week that it would buy twelve American Reaper drones but urged European industrial working on the successor of this device.