Bangalore, Feb 05: Two contracts on aircraft manufacturing and India's Advanced Light Helicopter between HAL and French companies would be announced during French Prime Minister Jean Pierre Raffarin's visit to the Aero India air show here tomorrow, a top defence official said. French companies and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited were negotiating several projects and talks were concluded last month, department of defence production and supplies secretary N S Sisodia, said at a press conference, addressed by Defence Minister George Fernandes at the Aero India 2003 air show. He, however, declined to give details, saying it was not "ethical" to do so when the announcements were expected tomorrow. The contracts relate to aircraft manufacturing and ALH, he said. Fernandes, answering a question on the possibility of signing defence deals during Raffarin's visit, said the French premier was also here for attending functions other than visiting the air show.

Bureau Report