Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday said that New Delhi would begin negotiations with France for the procurement of Rafale fighter jets this month and the deal would be sealed as soon as possible.
"The government-to-government committee will be set up which will begin negotiations on the deal. The negotiations will start anytime in May and we have to conclude them as early as possible," Parrikar said.
However, he did not set any specific deadline for the deal to be concluded.
French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is expected to be in the capital on May 6 to finalise the modalities for the negotiations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to France, last month, had signed an agreement to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets for over USD six billion.