Govt submits Rafale papers

Satya Prakash
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 12

Ahead of the November 14 hearing on PILs seeking court-monitored CBI probe into the Rafale deal, the Centre on Monday shared documents with petitioners on the decision-making process for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France, in compliance with the court’s October 31 order.

The Centre pointed out that during the long period of inconclusive Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) procurement process, “our adversaries inducted modern aircraft and upgraded their older versions. They acquired better capability air-to-air missiles and inducted indigenous fighters in large numbers.

“Further, they (India’s adversaries) modernised and inducted aircraft with advanced weapon and radar capabilities... our adversaries inducted more than 400 fighters (equivalent to more than 20 squadrons) during 2010-15. They not only inducted 4th generation aircraft but also inducted fifth generation stealth fighter aircraft. The combined effect of our own reducing combat potential and our adversaries enhancing their combat potential made the situation asymmetrical and extremely critical.” 

The Centre explained the purchase of 36 Rafale Jets (two squadrons) in fly-away condition as “an urgent need to arrest the decline in the number of fighter squadrons in IAF and enhance their combat capabilities.” Rafale fighter jet is a twin-engine MMRCA made by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.

The top court is seized of petitions filed by advocates Vineet Dandha, ML Sharma and Prashant Bhushan and former Union Ministers Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha. They have sought a court-monitored CBI probe into the deal.

A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi — which had on October 31 asked the Centre to submit in a sealed cover in 10 days strategic, confidential and pricing details of 36 Rafale fighter jets — will take up the matter on November 14.

On Indian Offset Partners, the Centre said: “The offset contract does not envisage manufacture of 36 Rafale aircraft in India by any public or private sector firm. 

As per the contract, the vendor is required to confirm the details of IOPs/products either at the time of seeking offset credits or one year prior to discharge of offset obligation.

“The annual offset implementation schedule... will commence from October 2019. The vendor is yet to submit a formal proposal in the prescribed manner...” Citing the preamble to the DPP, the Centre said, “Defence acquisition is not a standard open market commercial form of procurement and has certain unique features… As a result decision-making pertaining to defence procurement remains unique and complex.”