‘The Pack is Complete’ 36 IAF Rafales have landed home, and the IAF tweeted: “The Pack is Complete” celebrating the occasion.
The 36th Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale fighter landed in India from France on Thursday (December 15). India had signed a deal for 36 Rafales for Rs 59,000 crore and 35 of these fighter jets were already delivered from France. The one that landed today completed the consignment. Confirming the same, the IAF tweeted: “The Pack is Complete” to celebrate the occasion.
After taking off from France, the aircraft stopped for a quick en-route mid-air re-fuelling in the United Arab Emirates Air Force tanker aircraft, before arriving in India. Reportedly, the aircraft has been provided by France with all its spares and other parts replaced, as it was being used for developmental activities.
What was the deal with Rafale?
India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 to procure 36 Rafale fighter aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. With the landing of the final Rafale aircraft, the delivery of all Rafale fighters from France is complete.
The first five Rafale aircraft for the IAF arrived at Air Force Station, Ambala from France on July 27, 2020. The Indian Air Force formally inducted the aircraft on September 10, 2020 in a ceremony at Air Force Station, Ambala. France had supplied 35 Rafale aircraft and the country had to wait a little longer for the 36th aircraft.
Showcasing close bilateral and defence ties, the Chiefs of the Indian and French Air Forces flew a sortie last month in Jodhpur during Exercise Garuda VII. While the IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari flew a sortie in a Rafale fighter, the Chief of French Air and Space Force Gen Stephane Mille flew in an IAF Su-30 MKI fighter.
The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived at the Air Force Station in Ambala in July 2020. When it arrived, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “The Rafale deal was a game changer for India’s national security and its induction is a strong message for the world and especially for those who challenge India’s sovereignty.”
At that time, India was at the height of its conflict with China in the Galwan Valley.
The 35 aircrafts are stationed in Ambala, Haryana and Hasimara (West Bengal).
What is so impressive about the Rafale fighter jets?
Rafale is a French twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter aircraft designed and built by the French firm – Dassault Aviation. A 4.5 generation aircraft with long-range air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, Rafale comes replete with advanced radar and electronic warfare capabilities.
Inducted into the Indian Air Force at the peak of the conflict with China in 2020, the first batch of Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29, 2020. It had started operating over Ladakh within a week of its arrival in India and then the IAF started upgrading the planes to the highest standards, equipping them with India-specific enhancements. The aircraft’s serviceability is over 75 percent and Rafale’s maker Dassault Aviation is also a party to maintaining the aircraft.
The Controversy of the Deal
Since 2016, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had raised questions on the deal reiterating his allegation that the aircraft deal was nothing but a blatant case of cronyism. He said that the deal was struck to save Anil Ambani, who was carrying a Rs 45000 crore debt at the time, from bankruptcy as there was no reason that his inexperienced company should have replaced an aerospace giant like HAL.
Congress General Secretary, Randeep Surjewala in a press release said that the French news agency, Mediapart.fr shared news founded on the investigation of the French Anti-Corruption Agency revealing that a middleman was involved, they had payments of commissions, and red flags were raised by the French anti-corruption agency.
Mr. Surjewala raised pertinent questions in his press conference and asked:
How can middlemen and commissions be paid in a government-to-government contract or in any defense procurement in India in violation of the mandatory procurement procedures?
“Has it not now vitiated the entire Rafale deal entailing imposition of heavy financial penalties on Dassault, banning of the company, registration of an FIR, and other penal consequences as envisaged in the defense procurement and India’s stated policy?
Does it not require a full and independent investigation into India’s biggest defense deal as to home much bribery or commission was paid, and paid to whom in the Indian government? Will the Prime Minister now answer to the nation? “ asked Congress.
Later, France ordered a highly sensitive judicial probe into Rafale deal with India in 2016 leading to demands from Congress for a JPC. The investigation has been initiated by the national financial prosecutor’s office (PNF) to look into the sale of 36 Dassault-built Rafale fighter aircraft to India involving over 7.8 billion euros.
The Congress party wanted a joint parliamentary committee investigation after a French news website published that a French judge has been appointed to lead a “highly sensitive” judicial probe into alleged “corruption and favoritism” in the ₹ 59,000-crore deal with India.
The Congress stressed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should order the investigation, but the BJP Central government denied there was a scam, which Congress claimed is the “biggest scam in the history of India,” asserting it is far bigger than Bofors.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters in Delhi at that time, “Corruption in the Rafale deal has come out clearly now. The stand of the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi has been vindicated today after the French government ordered a probe.” Surjewala said.
France’s National Financial Prosecutors’ Office on Friday said it will look into alleged corruption in the sale of Rafale jets to India. Notably, this French judicial institution was created in December 2013 to track down serious economic and financial crimes.
Mr. Surjewala from Congress reiterated, “When the French government has accepted that there is corruption in the deal, should a JPC (joint parliamentary committee) probe be not held in the country where the corruption took place?”
