Rafale Deal: Thales Group Claims To Create 3,500 Jobs in India As Part of Offset Clause
France’s Thales group has confidence in creating more than 3,500 high-end jobs in India over the next three years as part of an offset clause under the Rafale deal.
New Delhi, July 13: France’s Thales group has confidence in creating more than 3,500 high-end jobs in India over the next three years as part of an offset clause under the Rafale deal. Thales group is a member of the Rafale team, alongside Dassault Aviation. As part of the offset clause, it will have to invest $ 1 billion in India in a joint venture with local companies Bharat Electronics and Reliance Naval And Engineering Ltd.
Thales is eying India for international orders. It is also offering transfer of key technology for radars, optronics and integration of systems to partners. Senior executive vice-president Pascale Sourisse told the Economics Times, “We are talking of thousands of jobs. Today we are at 1,500 and plan to be in the range of 5,000 in the next three years. We are taking of high-end jobs that require (world class) engineering competencies. We are in partnership with institutions like IITs and the Indian Institute of Science to skill people for these.”
Thales currently employs over 300 people at its Indian branch. The Thales India headquarters is located in New Delhi, and it has other operational offices and sites at Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai. Thales is also a major contributor to Dassault Aviation's Rafale fighter jet ordered by India. According to Sourisse, the company has recently obtained a final clearance for its joint venture with Reliance Naval And Engineering Ltd. The senior executive vice-president also said that the company transferred core technologies for the aircraft particularly in the radars and electronic warfare domain to Bharat Electronics Limited.
According to the Economic Times’ report, The company is looking to fulfil global demand with exports from India following the transfer of technology. Thales is also looking to manufacture long-range radars, sonar systems for the navy and air traffic control systems.
In 2016, India signed Rafale deal worth Rs 58,000 to procure 36 fighter jets in ready to fly condition. The Congress had alleged the Modi government of buying these jets at overpriced rates.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 13, 2018 02:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).