What is Rafale aircraft?
ü Rafales are twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) manufactured by Dassault Aviation, a French firm.
ü Rafale fighter jets are positioned as ‘omnirole’ aircrafts that capable to perform a wide-range of combat roles such as air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship strike and nuclear deterrence.
Why has India opted for Rafale?
ü Six renowned aircraft manufacturers competed to bag the contract of 126 fighter jets in India , which was touted to be the largest-ever defence procurement deal of India.
ü The Initial bidders were Lockheed Martin’s F-16s, Boeing’s F/A-18s, Eurofighter Typhoon, Russia’s MiG-35, Sweden’s Saab’s Gripen and Rafale.
ü All aircraft were tested by the IAF and after careful analysis on the bids, two of them — Eurofighter and Rafale — were shortlisted.
ü Dassault bagged the contract to provide 126 fighter jets, as it was the lowest bidder and the aircraft were said to be easy to maintain.
When did the actual procurement process begin?
ü Indian Air Force sought additional fighter jets in 2001. The current IAF fleet largely consists of heavy and light-weight combat aircraft. So the Defence Ministry considered bringing in intermediate medium-weight fighter jets.
ü Though the idea has been around since 2001, the actual process began in 2007. The Defence Acquisition Council, headed by then Defence Minister A.K. Antony, approved the Request For Proposal to buy 126 aircraft in August 2007. This kick-started the bidding process.
How many Rafales are we buying ?
ü The plan included acquiring 126 aircraft, 18 of them in fly-away condition and the rest to be made in India at the Hindustan Aeronautics facility under transfer of technology.
ü After Rafale won the contract, the Indian side and Dassault started negotiations in 2012. While it is usual for such negotiations to stretch to several months, the Rafale negotiations has been on for almost four years now. The agreement was signed only in January 2016.
Why this delay?
ü Both India and France witnessed national elections and a change in government while the negotiations were under way.
ü Pricing was another factor.
ü Even during the signing of the purchase agreement, both the sides couldn’t reach a conclusion on the financial aspects.
ü According to sources, the price of an aircraft it about Rs.740 crores and India wants them for at least 20 per cent lesser cost.
ü Though the initial plan was to buy 126 jets, India scaled it down to 36, that too in ready condition.
How important is this deal to both India and France?
ü France: Rafale jets are currently being used mostly by France and also by Egypt and Qatar.
ü Dassault is hoping that export of Rafale jets will help the company meet its revenue targets.
ü India was the first country that agreed to buy Rafale, after it was used in Libyan airstrikes.
ü If India inducts these jets in its military fold, other nations could express its willingness to buy Rafales.
ü India: India chose Dassault over its traditional partner Russia’s MiG.
ü It also ignored U.S.’ Lockheed, at a time when India and U.S. were aiming for closer ties.
ü Procurement of combat aircraft is long overdue for the Indian Air Force.
ü This deal is India’s biggest-ever procurement. In the effectiveness of the Rafale deal lies the future of other defence procurements.
ü India in September 2016 inked a direct deal with the French government to purchase 36 new Rafale fighter jets in a 7.87 billion euro deal that is likely to bring major work to the Indian private sector in terms of offsets under the make in India policy.
ü The Rafale deal for 36 jets includes over 3 billion euros of work for the Indian industry over the next 7-8 years .
ü This has a huge potential to develop direct and indirect employment opportunities in India," the official said. Besides high end technology like engine know-how, major structural assembly is also likely in India, besides a chunk of avionics work.
ü India will also get latest weapons like the Meteor and Scalp missiles as part of the contract, besides a 5 year support package that assures high availability of the fighter. India will pay a 15 % advance and deliveries are to start in three years.
ü The deal was inked after negotiations that last close to 18 months, with Indian negotiators finally bringing down the price by 328 million euros.
ü India Specific enhancements
The Rafale deal caters to specific Indian air force needs. The fighter jet will be modified by France to meet the following:
* Helmet mounted sights and targeting system to give the pilots lightening quick ability to shoot off weapons.
* Ability to taken off from high altitude airbases like Leh on a 'cold start' - for quick reaction deployment
* A radar warning receiver to identify hostile tracking systems
* A towed decoy system to thwart incoming missile attacks.
The Hindu