Rafale deal: Reliance, Dassault Aviation set up joint venture

In a major deal for India’s private defence industry, Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group and Rafale maker Dassault Aviation on Monday announced a joint venture (JV) that will be a “key player” in execution of offset contract worth about Rs 22,000 crore as part of the fighter jet deal. The announcement of the JV, Dassault Reliance Aerospace, comes within days of India and France on September 23 signing an agreement for 36 Rafale fighter jets at a value of euro 7.87 billion, or about Rs 59,000 crore.

The agreement includes a 50 per cent offset obligation, the largest-ever offset contract in the history of India.

The main point of the offset agreement is 74 per cent of it has to be imported from India, which means direct business worth around Rs 22,000 crore.The offset, spread over seven years, will be finalised soon.There is also a technology-sharing component, which is being discussed with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).Other companies involved in the Rafale deal include French firms MBDA and Thales, besides Safran, which too will be part of the overall offset obligation.

The Dassault Reliance Aerospace joint venture will be a key player in the execution of offset obligations, a joint statement by the companies said.

“This new joint venture called Dassault Reliance Aerospace will support Prime Minister Modi’s Make in India and Skill India policies and develop major Indian programmes with high levels of technology transfer to benefit the entire aerospace sector,” it added.The proposed strategic partnership between Dassault and Reliance will also focus on promoting research and development projects under the IDDM programme (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured), a new initiative of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.