Rafale jets now 9% cheaper: Dassault CEO Eric Trappier

Dassault Aviation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Eric Trappier rubbished allegations made by Congress Party president Rahul Gandhi that he lied about details of the Dassault- Reliance Joint Venture (JV) for offset contracts in the Rafale Jet deal. He also clarified the pricing of the jets, saying they are now 9 percent cheaper in the new deal. “Price of 36 was exactly the same when you compare with 18 flyaway. 36 is the double of 18, so as far as I was concerned, it should have been double the price. But because it was government to government, there was some negotiation, I had to decrease price by 9%. The price of Rafale in flyaway condition is less expensive in the 36 contract than the 126 contract,” he said.