India´s air force chief has said conclusion of a $22 billion fighter jet deal with French company Dassault Aviation was imminent after missed deadlines and delays.
Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha told an Indian newspaper that “the military could not afford any more hold ups of the 2012 deal to supply 126 French-made Rafale fighters”.
Raha said a deadline for finalisation of the deal had not been set but added “it´s going to happen soon.”
“The current government has set the pace of work and things are moving fast enough on the fighter deal.” The daily quoted a defence ministry official as saying “Rafale has run through the finish line.”