India to get 36 Rafale planes

New Delhi: The 36 Rafale combat planes and associated systems and weapons would be delivered in the same configuration as had been tested and approved by Indian Air Force, and with a longer maintenance responsibility by France, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Tuesday.

As per the India-France Joint Statement issued during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France earlier this year, the Indian government conveyed to France that in view of the critical operational necessity for multirole combat aircraft for IAF, it would like to acquire 36 Rafale jets in fly-away condition as quickly as possible. The two leaders agreed to conclude an inter-governmental agreement for supply of the aircraft on terms that would be better than conveyed by Dassault Aviation, manufacturer of the combat plane, as part of a separate process underway and the delivery would be in time-frame that would be compatible with the operational requirement of IAF, he said.

The aircraft and associated systems and weapons would be delivered on the same configuration as had been tested and approved by IAF, and with a longer maintenance responsibility by France, he said.

A negotiating team has been constituted to negotiate the terms and conditions of the procurement of 36 Rafale jet planes and recommend the draft agreement.

Chinese Navy's missile destroyer docks at Mumbai

Jinan, a Luyang II-class missile destroyer of the Chinese Navy, on Monday docked at Mumbai harbor on a stopover while on an anti-piracy mission on the Gulf of Aden.

Defence sources said the destroyer reached the Mumbai harbour earlier in the day.

The People's Liberation Army Navy vessel will be leaving for Salalah in Oman on July 24.

The arrival of the Chinese vessel comes at a time when India is keeping a firm eye on the Chinese naval movement in the Indian Ocean Region.