This is the first on-record denial by Dassault itself, and it deals a serious blow to Pakistan’s claims of shooting down multiple Indian jets, including Rafales, during the four-day conflict.
Olivier Dassault’s private helicopter crashed in Normandy, where he has a holiday home, on March 7. The pilot was also killed.
Sitharaman also said that it was necessary for young people to have the drive to acquire skills that can help them in their career prospects.
The BJP leader, who was here to campaign for party candidates in the forthcoming civic body polls, said Wednesday, "The Congress president seems to believe that telling a lie again and again makes it a truth, but the Dassault CEO's statement is a slap on his face".
The government’s defence of the deal for 36 Rafale jets is not credible, and so is the multi-billion dollar S-400 deal which has no technology offsets
"Rafale is a good aircraft. It will be game-changer when it comes to the subcontinent," he said at a press conference.
Air Marshal Nambiar flew the first Rafale fighter jet manufactured by Dassault Aviation for India, the sources said.
It's the fourth day at Aero India 2017 which is being held in Bengaluru and French aviation major, Dassault showcased its latest ultra-long range business jet the Falcon 8X.
The proposed combination relates to the setting up of a joint venture between Reliance Aero and Dassault -- Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited, in which Reliance Aero would hold 51 per cent shares, with the remaining 49 percent to be held by Dassault.
A deal for 200 single-engine planes produced in India - which the air force says could rise to 300 as it fully phases out ageing Soviet-era aircraft - could be worth anything from USD 13-USD 15 billion, experts say, potentially one of the country's biggest military aircraft deals.
With the deal for 36 Rafale jets in kitty, Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier today said the French company is game for the 'Make in India' initiative and open to manufacturing the fighter aircraft in India if the plane is shortlisted for a bigger order.
French President Francois Hollande is due in New Delhi this month as a guest of honour at a military parade and the two sides are expected to seal the pact for the Rafale fighters either just before he arrives or during the visit.
Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjeet Singh also held a series of meetings with the companies present in the defence sector, including Dassault, from which India has decided to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month announced plans to buy 36 Rafales under a government-to-government contract with France, leaving doubts over the status of earlier plans to buy 126 planes, including 18 to be built in France.
With the multi-billion dollar contract for Rafale jets caught in the doldrums, the UK on Thursday hoped there would be an opportunity for the Eurofighter aircraft to get back into the race with a "very competitive bid".
The Rafale was picked in 2012 over rival offers from the United States, Europe and Russia. A final deal has been held up due to a stalemate over a crucial component of the deal.
The Bengaluru skies dazzled with somersaults and stunts by metal birds with the daredevilry of world famous aerobatics teams in full flow.
The maker of luxury jets and Rafale warplanes warned of the risk of squandering European know-how after France ordered drones from the United States and stepped up pressure for the launch of new combat and surveillance drone projects.
In an interview with CNBC-TV18, PN Vijay, a Portfolio Manager, picks two stocks as his multi-baggers for the day. PN Vijay likes Geometric Software and Allsec Technology. He predicts Geometric Software's target price to be Rs 145 and Allsec Technology's target price to be Rs 100 in the next twelve months.
In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Manu Parpia, MD & CEO, Geometric Ltd states that the IT sector had to focus on executing orders and that the effects of the company's rejig would take time to bear fruit
India announced yesterday it had selected the French firm Dassault over the Eurofighter consortium for "exclusive negotiations" as the preferred bidder in a contract estimated to be worth USD 12 billion.
The decision is obviously disappointing but it is about who the Indians have assessed as making the lowest bid and therefore asked to enter into further negotiations.
India has shortlisted European defence firms Dassault and Eurofighter for an USD 11 billion fighter jet contract, rejecting U.S. and Russian firms in a move that indicates an effort by Asia's third largest economy to broaden its strategic ties.