India to get Rafale jets by 2019

India will get its first Rafale fighter jets in 2019 and according Dassault CEO Eric Trappier, France is in discussions to assist in the domestic next generation Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) as part of the offset obligations of the fighter jet deal.

Trappier said that the French side, however, feels that a larger order of close to 200 Rafale jets would be ideal to transfer high-end technology and manufacturing capabilities to India at a "competitive level”.

"We have already discussed with Indian agencies and have proposed that our capabilities be integrated. We have started the discussions as part of the offset framework,” Trappier told ET.

He also said that the company is keen to partner India for the project

The Indian Air Force has made it clear that it needs much more of the medium combat jets in the Rafale category over the coming years. The air force has said India requires 200-250 more aircraft in the middle weight category of fighters that the Rafale falls into. Global aviation giants like Dassault, Airbus, Boeing and Saab are closely watching Indian moves to select a combat aircraft for a new fighter production line.