Background: India-France relations, Defence ties, Rafale deal.
- The Anil Ambani led-Reliance Group signed an agreement with Dassault Aviation of France (the makers of Rafale fighter jets) for a joint venture in India to be named Dassault Reliance Aerospace, to execute offsets for the Rafale deal.
- India agreed to buy 36 Rafale jets in a flyaway condition from France for €7.87 billion, or about Rs. 59,000 crore, on September 23.
- The purchase agreement has 50 percent or up to Rs. 30,000 crore offset obligation. Dassault will have to invest about Rs. 30,000 crore in the Indian defence ecosystem.
- The proposed partnership between Dassault and Reliance will also focus on research and development projects under the IDDM programme.
