India, France Agree to Finalize Rafale Deal by Spring

NEW DELHI — India will fast-track the finalization of the US $12 billion plan to purchase 126 Dassault Rafale jets, according to a senior Indian Defense Ministry official, almost three years after India made Dassault its preferred bidder. The news follows Monday evening talks between India n Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his visiting French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian. The India n MoD official refused to give details on how the two sides will resolve differences holding back the finalization of the negotiations in the…