Know Your 'Rafale'

[akshay m]

No need for 126 Rafales, NDA govt will buy only 36, says Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar

Terming the UPA's proposed deal for 126Rafale fighter jetsas "economically unviable" and not required,Defence MinisterManohar Parrikarhas said the NDA government will buy only 36 of the French aircraft, to be used for strategic purposes, and no more.

Parrikar also raised questions on the tendering process initiated by former Defence Minister A K Antony and said his predecessor had "hammered" the tender in such a way that the Rafale deal would have never seen the light of the day.

Rejecting criticism from the Congress that Prime MinisterNarendra Modihad bypassed the Finance Ministry and the Defence Acquisition Council, the apex body of the Defence Ministry that takes the call on military projects, Parrikar said "the deal is yet to be inked" and they should hold their horses till the process was complete.

He expressed confidence that the Committee, that has been set up to work out the contract, would complete the task in the next 2-3 months.

The Modi government has scrapped the over USD 20 billion deal for 126 Rafales more than three years after Dassault was declared the lowest bidder under UPA's tenure.

During his visit to France last month, the Prime Minister announced the decision to buy 36 of these jets in a fly-away condition under a government-to-government (G2G) contract.

Parrikar underlined that the decision to acquire 36 Rafales came in view of the "urgent requirement" of Indian Air Force.

"We are not buying the rest. We are only buying the direct 36," Parrikar said when asked what will happen to rest of the requirement.

He said that the UPA deal for 126 Rafales was way too expensive and it would have hampered other modernisation plans of the Indian military.

The deal would have required around Rs 1.3 lakh crore over a period of 10-11 years, he added.

"Would there be any money for any other work?" he asked.

"I also feel like having a BMW and Mercedes. But I don't because I can't afford it. First I can't afford it and second I don't need it. So, 126 Rafales was economically unviable. It was not required," Parrikar said.

Attacking Antony over the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft tendering process, Parrikar said that his UPA predecessor had "hammered" the tender in such a way that the Rafales would have never seen the light of day.

He also wondered why Antony was trying to force the French firm Dassault Aviation, manufacturer of the Rafale, to come back to him even after it was selected as the lowest bidder.

"After L1 was determined, he said go ahead with cost negotiations and, after negotiations are complete, go back and check on methodology of L1, whether it was correct or not? "Why did it happen? There are only two reasons. You are forcing your supplier to come back to you. What is the reason? He (Antony) should answer," Parrikar said refusing to elaborate further.

The minister underlined that Rafales are not a replacement for MiG-21s. He said that the MiGs would be replaced by the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft.

Explaining the strike capability of the Rafales and the kind of weapons it is fitted with, Parrikar said the French fighter jet was a "deep-striking fourth generation plus" aircraft.

Asked if the Rafale deal meant that the Modi government will only go throughG2Gdeals for strategic assets in defence, Parrikar said the Defence Procurement Procedure does not prevent the government from using the G2G route.

"That Rafale deal (MMRCA) of his (Antony) through RFP would have never seen the light of the day. Wherever there is a need of defence of this country, I will not hesitate to advise the Prime Minister to go for government-to-government deal," he said.

 

[Gabriel92]

India will only buy 36 Rafale fighter jets as they are "way too expensive", the defence minister said Sunday, dashing lingering French hopes of a larger deal that has been years in the making.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the previous government's plans to buy 126 of the fighter jets from French firm Dassault were "economically unviable and not required".

"We are not buying the rest. We are only buying the... 36," Parrikar told the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency.

During a visit to France in April, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that New Delhi was ordering 36 of the "ready to fly" planes.

The deal -- estimated to be worth five billion euros ($5.5 billion) -- followed tortuous years-long negotiations on buying the jets.

But the purchase agreement fell a long way short of previous proposals for India to buy 126. Frustrating negotiations for that deal stalled over costs and assembly guarantees.

Parrikar has since played down expectations of a larger deal, but his comments on Sunday were some of his strongest yet, saying buying more of the jets would blow the defence ministry's procurement budget.

"I also feel like having a BMW and Mercedes. But I don't because I can't afford it. First I can't afford it and second I don't need it," Parrikar told PTI.

Parrikar said a committee set up to nail down details of purchasing the 36 would complete its work in the next two to three months.

India has in recent years launched a vast defence modernisation programme worth some $100 billion, partly to keep up with rival neighbours Pakistan and China.

Since coming to power one year ago, Modi's government has approved a string of contracts for new military hardware that had stalled under the previous left-leaning Congress party.

Modi, a hardline nationalist premier, also wants to end India's status as the world's number one defence importer and to have 70 percent of hardware manufactured domestically by the turn of the decade.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/af...y-36-French-Rafale-fighter-jets-minister.html

 

[Defencearts]

Damn... Is this for real?

Why am I not surprised to see the initial order of 126 drastically reduced to 36 planes?!

 

[Defencearts]

"I'm not saying we will buy more Rafale; I'm not saying we will not buy more," said Parrikar.

http://www.business-standard.com/ar...-for-more-rafale-fighters-115052700033_1.html

LOL, what does this mean? He is not sure what India will end up doing?

 

[Compersion]

do the french want 36 and more.

MMRCA 100+ is with TOT

 

[Punya Pratap]

India to adopt ‘unique formula’ to acquire additional Rafale: Manohar Parrikar
Published June 1, 2015 | By admin
SOURCE: UNI

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has ruled out the possibility of buying more than 36 Rafale fighter jets under the present process as top sources in the Defence Ministry today suggested that India will adopt a new formula to acquire the rest of Medium-Multi-Role-Combat-Aircraft (MMRCA).

Although, only 36 Rafale will be purchased through Government-to-Government (G-to-G) deal, as was conveyed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to France leadership during his visit, rest of the requirement will be fulfilled via public-private-foreign (PPF) partnership route.

Calling earlier proposal of acquiring 126 fighters as ‘economically unviable’, the Defence Minister has suggested that India need not to buy more than 36 Rafale fighter jets.

A timeline of 90 days has been fixed to complete the price negotiation for 36 Rafale, including 32 single seater and rest 4 twin seater for the training purposes, the sources said.

“Soon after the completion of price negotiation process, the delivery of the aircraft will commence,” they said.

“First, I can not afford and second, I do not need it (additional Rafale)” Mr Parrikar was quoted as saying in some media reports.

The IAF has projected the requirement of 126 fighters, with an option clause of purchasing additional 63 aircraft. The long drawn process, that ran into more than 8 years, had been scrapped by the present government.

“An entity of companies from public and private sector will be floated to generate resources for building industrial base for assembling rest of the Rafales, after the delivery of 36 fighters is complete,” the sources said.

“The entity will have a strategic partnership with French Dassault Aviation (maker of Rafale),” they said.

The government need not to put its financial resources to create the required infrastructure for rest of the Rafale aircraft, which will be acquired under the new formula.

The formula seems to be in sync with Mr Parrikar’s earlier statement when he said that by deciding to buy 36 Rafales, the government has saved the cost of 90 fighters, which can be spent on the development of Tejas mark-2

 

[Punya Pratap]

The second last paragraph is very interesting and it seems like there is a genuine call from the Def Ministry to the Pvt Cos to reap a windfall coz the future Rafale acquisition is going to be a Dassault/Indian Pvt Co JV !!

I am pretty sure this JV will only be formed if the GoI manages to convince Dassault and the Indian Pvt Co of a certain number of Rafales WILL be bought!

Mods please revive the Rafale thread coz the saga will go on as far as we know

 

[Punya Pratap]

India to adopt ‘unique formula’ to acquire additional Rafale: Manohar Parrikar
Published June 1, 2015 | By admin
SOURCE: UNI

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has ruled out the possibility of buying more than 36 Rafale fighter jets under the present process as top sources in the Defence Ministry today suggested that India will adopt a new formula to acquire the rest of Medium-Multi-Role-Combat-Aircraft (MMRCA).

Although, only 36 Rafale will be purchased through Government-to-Government (G-to-G) deal, as was conveyed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to France leadership during his visit, rest of the requirement will be fulfilled via public-private-foreign (PPF) partnership route.

Calling earlier proposal of acquiring 126 fighters as ‘economically unviable’, the Defence Minister has suggested that India need not to buy more than 36 Rafale fighter jets.

A timeline of 90 days has been fixed to complete the price negotiation for 36 Rafale, including 32 single seater and rest 4 twin seater for the training purposes, the sources said.

“Soon after the completion of price negotiation process, the delivery of the aircraft will commence,” they said.

“First, I can not afford and second, I do not need it (additional Rafale)” Mr Parrikar was quoted as saying in some media reports.

The IAF has projected the requirement of 126 fighters, with an option clause of purchasing additional 63 aircraft. The long drawn process, that ran into more than 8 years, had been scrapped by the present government.

“An entity of companies from public and private sector will be floated to generate resources for building industrial base for assembling rest of the Rafales, after the delivery of 36 fighters is complete,” the sources said.

“The entity will have a strategic partnership with French Dassault Aviation (maker of Rafale),” they said.

The government need not to put its financial resources to create the required infrastructure for rest of the Rafale aircraft, which will be acquired under the new formula.

The formula seems to be in sync with Mr Parrikar’s earlier statement when he said that by deciding to buy 36 Rafales, the government has saved the cost of 90 fighters, which can be spent on the development of Tejas mark-2

 

[Jagdish58]

Good move by GOI giving better chance for LCA mk2

 

[blueblood]

India will not buy anymore Rafales directly but from an Indian private company which will "make in India" through a JV with Dassault.

At least this is what I think.

 

[tharikiran]

An entity of companies from public and private sector will be floated to generate resources for building industrial base for assembling rest of the Rafales, after the delivery of 36 fighters is complete,” the sources said.

Enter the dragon Reliance Industries Ltd.

 

[sob]

As per reports in TOI today there might be a follow on order for 20 more aircraft. This may be next year or towards the ned of the deliveries of the 36 aircraft.

Govt. is willing to fully give time to HAL to develop LCA MK II and AMCA.

another factor is that the Govt. wants the IAF to take a decision whether to go in for further SU 30 MKI or Rafael and this will be only decided once IAF has a squadron of Rafael flying for around 12 months minimum.

 

[Shirman]

It will be interesting to see how Hal and Tejas story evolves now they have Political will......This wasn't the case in 10 years of UPA rule.......I mean if ISRO can send Mars Satellite HAL and ADA will atleast role out LCA mk2 by 2019 and if it dosn't happen privatization is the only possibility left......aka TATA Aerospace or L&T aerospace etc....

 

[Illusive]

Don't know about Tejas mk2 but they better start putting serious funds to our 5g aircraft + Super su30 needs to get some comprehensive updates with increased reliability and availability.

 

[saik]

Wherever gov institutions are weak, get private participation in.. share the projects. sell off GTRE like ONGC, starting with 10-20%. Get the money lost by way of not porting Kaveri into LCA TD.

Kaveri as is, and Kaveri augmented/up thrusted 110kN needed. Get the private in.. Get young bloods in. invest and get it out in 2 year agile plan. Gov can still keep a strict regulation on the defence technology assets and IPR.

Modi gov as is praises our IPR laws. we are good to go big on turbine engineering and unleash our potential. we are just dormant, with many young bloods tamed and unused.

 

[roma]

hahahahah ...well the english must be having a little laugh at the french

but this is certainly the way to go , another paradigm correct decision by the modi led govt and both parrilkar and jaitley must get their due

more power to LCA tejas and can mix with good numbers of sukhoi cobra etc etc

 

[jaciunite2]

Stunning? Ugly?

This is a fighter plane meant to KILL enemy fighters or DESTROY enemy targets. KILLING people is its role. Real Killing like blood and gore. It is not Miss World beauty pageant competition that Rafale needs to be Stunning looking.

Although it IS a good looking fighter. Heck it looks far better than Eurofighter or F-18, for that matter.

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[halloweene]

Enter the dragon Reliance Industries Ltd.

Not so sure. From the rumours i heard, Dassault would be prime contractor and HAL largest subcontractor.
Note it is just rumours.

 

[blueblood]

Not so sure. From the rumours i heard, Dassault would be prime contractor and HAL largest subcontractor.
Note it is just rumours.

But that will defeat the entire purpose of NOT spending govt. money on assembly lines. Lets wait and see.

 

[Khagesh]

This was circulating on tweeter. Said to be the Swiss evaluation report on Rafale, Typhoon and Gripen. Not sure. Not read personally yet.

http://kovy.free.fr/temp/rafale/pdf/12332.pdf