Even as the controversy over the purchase of Rafale aircraft rages on, the Indian airforce is processing request for information (RFI) for procuring 110 fighter planes.
Swedish defence major Saab is one of the bidders for the programme.
Mats Palmberg, vice president, industrial partnerships, Saab, and head of Gripen India campaign, spoke to Rituparna Bhuyan on the status of the proposed defence deals.
Palmberg said, "We have responded to the RFI back in July 2018 and to the best of my understanding the Indian airforce is evaluating the responses. They are working on setting the requirements for the next formal step in the process."
On the current FDI policy on defence, he said, "It is probably irrelevant. However, I think to warrant success in a complicated programme like a fighter programme, you could find another solution where you allow us to have higher control when we are entering into it and then gradually reduce that control as the programme is accomplished."
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