India To Sign 126 Rafale Deal Before March ’14: IAF Deputy Chief

Air Marshal S. Sukumar, deputy chief of air staff, has publicly asserted that the Indian Air Force will sign the multi-billion fighter aircraft deal by the end of this fiscal.

According to a statement issued by conference organizer, the Confederation of Indian Industry, India will finalise a $15 billion deal to buy 126 Rafale fighter jets from France's Dassault Aviation by March 2014.

Dassault had earlier expressed reservations about HAL’s the ability as the local lead manufacturer.

The French aircraft-maker has yet to comment on the latest statement. But the company still hopes to sign the deal by the end of 2013.