Why buy 'outdated and costly' Rafale, asks ex-Home Secy

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 5

Former Union Secretary RK Singh, who is now a BJP MP from Bihar, today questioned in Parliament the need to buy French fighter jets Rafale. He said the cost was prohibitive and the jet did not compare any way with the Russian Sukhoi-30-MKI. “Why are we going for it (Rafale),” he asked during Question Hour.

RK Singh, who was Home Secretary between June 30, 2011 and June 30, 2013, has also served two years as Secretary, Defence Production, before his tenure as Home Secretary.

“I notice that the aircraft which was bid for and the aircraft which was finally selected are of the 1980s technology -- a technology which is on its way out,” he said.

“The aircraft which is proposed to be procured -- Rafale -- does not compare in any way with Su-30. So why are you going for it? Also, the cost is prohibitive. The concept of life cycle costs has actually made the aircraft much more expensive than what it would have been if we had purchased it according to normal financial rules,” Singh said.

RK Singh questioned the design and development of fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) with Russia saying “My information is that this aircraft is already flying (in Russia). So what is the design and development about?”

Defence Manohar Parrikar said, “Once the complete negotiations are over, we will definitely take his concerns on Rafale into account. Rafale is not an old-generation aircraft. It is quite a new aircraft."

On the FGFA. Parrikar said that we are getting "very close" technology to what the Russians themselves are manufacturing.