New Delhi: Indian Air Force (IAF) has been handed over three Rafale fighter aircraft till date which were being used for training of IAF pilots and technicians in France, Lok Sabha was told.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh received the first Rafale jet at an air base in France on October 8. The first batch of four Rafale aircraft will arrive in India by May 2020.

India and France signed an Euro 7.87 billion (Rs 59,000 crore approximately) deal in September 2016 for 36 Rafale jets.

“Three Rafale fighter aircraft have been handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) till date which are being used for training of IAF pilots and technicians in France,” Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik said in reply to a question.

However, the Minister did not clarify when the two other aircraft were handed over to India.

The Performance Audit Report of CAG on Capital Acquisition in Indian Air Force presented in Parliament on February 13, 2019 has brought out that the entire package price of the 36 Rafale procurement is 2.86 per cent lower than the Audit Aligned price compared to MMRCA process.

That CAG report has also brought out that Non Firm & Fixed (F&F) bid as done in the 36 Rafale IGA may be more advantageous than Firm & Fixed offer.

The Inter-Governmental Agreement was signed on September 23, 2016 between the Government of India and the Government of French Republic along with Aircraft Package Supply Protocol (APSP) signed with M/s Dassault Aviation and Weapons Package Supply Protocol (WPSP) signed with M/s MBDA for purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in fly-away condition.

Indian Government has not recommended any company for making Rafale jets for India.