The Story behind India’s Controversial Rafale Jets
The Rafale jets may have had a smooth landing at the Ambala Air Force Station on the 29th of July but the journey to get there was certainly a long and turbulent affair.
Their story goes back to the beginning of the millennium when there was a growing need to revamp and diversify the Indian Air Force. As a result, a proposal to purchase 126 Medium, Multi-Role Combat Aircraft, or, MMRCAs, was made to the Vajpayee-led NDA government in 2001. These jets, equipped with a multitude of newer functions like air defense, ground attacks, and close support, were supposed to replace the aging MiG-21s that were widely used by the Air Force.
The procurement process was initiated for the acquiring 18 aircraft in “fly-away condition”, with the remaining 108 intending to be built in India by Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) under Transfer of Technology. At the end of the procurement, Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon were shortlisted over other contenders. Ultimately Rafale, manufactured by the French Dassault Aviation, was finalized, as it was the lowest bidder. After prolonged contract negotiations, a Work Share agreement was ultimately signed in March 2014, stipulating a 70:30 ratio for the division of work between HAL and Dassault Aviation. These terms were drafted and agreed upon under the reign of the UPA government. However, before the conclusion of the contract, the NDA rose to power and re-evaluated the Rafale deal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France in 2015, and shortly thereafter announced his purchase of 36 Rafale planes in a “fly-away” condition, under a government to government deal. The deal also included spares, weaponry, maintenance, and training packages. By 2016, the deal was finalized for a sum of almost Rs. 59,000 Cr.
In a 2018 parliament session, the government estimated the cost of each aircraft to be Rs. 670 crores. However, Dassault Aviation’s Annual Reports revealed that each jet costs the government approximately Rs.1,666 crores. These mismatched figures led to an uproar by the opposition. They began to publicly scrutinize the Rafale deal, accusing the government of corruption. The NDA government was additionally accused of favoritism, as the government contract was awarded to Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence, a company the opposition claimed was inexperienced, and had close ties to the NDA.
In 2018, a Public Interest Litigation was filed to further scrutinize and probe the deal. The issue was deliberated by the Supreme Court, with the government submitting the pricing details as well as the modalities of procurement in a sealed cover to the court, leading to a ruling in December 2018 that there were no irregularities in the deal. The actual cost breakdown and specifics of the deal are not available to the public domain, making it a bone of contention between the two.
Notwithstanding the political controversies, 29th July was a noteworthy day for the country and the armed forces, marking the delivery of 5 Rafale jets on Indian soil.
With the hope of no further controversy, all the fighter planes are set to be delivered by 2022.
References
Everything you need to know about the Rafale deal controversy — Probe dismissed, RaGa cleared. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2020, from https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-rafale-deal-controversy/custom-made-for-india/slideshow/65079733.cms
Pti. (2018, December 14). Rafale deal case: A timeline. Retrieved August 24, 2020, from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rafale-deal-case-a-timeline/article25741453.ece
Taneja, R. (2018, February 09). What Is Rafale Deal Controversy? All You Need To Know. Retrieved August 24, 2020, from https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/what-is-rafale-deal-controversy-all-you-need-to-know-1810706
Som, V., & Ghosh, D. (2020, July 29). 5 Rafales Land In Ambala, Greeted With Special Salute. Retrieved August 24, 2020, from https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rafale-jets-5-rafale-fight-jets-to-arrive-in-india-today-will-join-iafs-golden-arrows-2270499