India, France set to ink agreements on Rafale, Scorpene

New Delhi

Mr Hollande, who is the chief guest for this year's Republic Day parade, would have extensive delegation level talks with India on various issues that revolve around cooperation in defence, economic, nuclear and strategic fields.

Apart from much anticipated Government-to-Government (G-to-G) agreement to formalise the Rafale deal with French Dassaults, the two sides were expected to sign an instrument to extend the Scorpene project under which six conventional submarines are being constructed at the government owned Mazagoa Dock Limited in Mumbai.

Indian Navy, according to sources, has desired to extend the project to build two more such underwater vessels to arrest the critical strength of the submarine fleet.

The first of the vessel of  the Scorpene class is scheduled to be inducted in the Indian Navy in September this year, with subsequent each boats to come in an interval of nine months. Last of the submarine is expected to come under Navy's flag sometime in 2020.

These submarines were under construction in the MDL with work going on full stream in various stages.

The agreement on Rafale is much more a mere formality as the decision to buy 36 fighters was conveyed by Mr Modi to the French President, when he visited Paris in April, 2014.

A month later, the Defence Ministries of the side had constituted a joint committee to discuss the modalities of the agreement, including per unit cost of the aircraft and offset obligations.

The apex decision making body in the Defence Ministry had expressed its satisfaction over the progress being made by the joint committee, although a final contract to seal the aspect of the deal is yet to be put in place, sources said.