The features that make the Rafale a strategic weapon in the hands of IAF, which is now down to 34 squadrons as against a sanctioned strength of 44, includes its Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Meteor air-to-air missile with a range of 150 KM. He also said that the deal left out important prerequisites for finalisation.
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The first ready-to-fly Rafales are expected to arrive by 2019 and India is set to have all 36 within six years. As per the Indian Air Force these 126 was the minimum for their urgent operational requirements considering the security scenario. Congress leader Tom Vadakkan told ANI. The deal was estimated to cost $10.2 billion and the plan was to acquire 18 aircraft in fly-away condition and manufacturing the rest in India. “The IAF needs more squadrons, current availability of fighter jets is 32 squadrons, and by 2022, this will reduce to 25”, he said.
“Today we read inspired pieces in some media, which claim the present Government has saved money by hard negotiations”.
India and France finalized an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) on Friday for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets from the later country at a cost of €7.87 billion. The deal, first fighter plane contract in 20 years, comes with an immediate saving of 328 million Euros over the one struck during the previous UPA government, which was scrapped by the Narendra Modi government, besides a 50 per cent offset clause. “I understand there is no such condition in the present contract”, Antony said, adding, “This will cost us very heavily”.
Thales, a technology firm and a member of Rafale team alongside Dassault aviation, welcomed the signing of the agreement.
Commenting on comparing the price of the deal, the Congress leader said, “There is absolutely no basis in comparing price during UPA’s time and present price because the contract had not been finalised then”.
The air force now has around 32 squadrons, each comprising 18 aircraft, but has said it needs at least 42 to protect its northern and western borders with China. “Government must publish the details of the final contract”, Antony said. However, when the UPA was in power in 2012, India had chose to deal for a total of 126 Rafale jets, which begs the question, would the 36 aircrafts suffice the needs of India?
India says its locally made Tejas fighter, which took to the skies in July 33 years after it was cleared for development, will form a major part of its future fleet, but Parrikar has also said that India needed 100 new light combat aircraft by 2020 to replace Russian MiG-21s.
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Defence Ministry sources said the Rafale, which has a range of 780 to 1055 km, depending on mission role, as compared to 400-450 of the Su30, will be better than what even the French uses as it will have numerous India specific additions. In other words, if inflation Indices goes down, India will have to pay less.
