Aircraft
Dassault Boss: Indian Rafale Contract By Year-end
Three generations of Dassault leader­ ship at last Friday’s press conference: Eric Trappier (right) was joined by his predecessor Charles Edelstenne (left) and company patriarch Serge Dassault (centre). (Photo: Chris Pocock)
Three generations of Dassault leader­ ship at last Friday’s press conference: Eric Trappier (right) was joined by his predecessor Charles Edelstenne (left) and company patriarch Serge Dassault (centre). (Photo: Chris Pocock)

The $10 billion-plus contract to sell 126 Rafale combat jets to India will be completed by the end of the year. That was the confident prediction of Eric Trappier, Dassault Aviation president and director-general, at an eve-of-show press conference. Since India selected the French combat jet in January 2012, negotiations have dragged on, with thorny issues of local partnerships, offsets and liabilities unresolved. Trappier would not discuss the details, but admitted that it had been “an uphill task.” However, he did confirm that the option for a further 63 aircraft was under active discussion.