1. India is a huge democracy, which needs to protect it's territorial and strategic assets. In light of this, it not only needs to import, 'Work of Art Flying Fighter Platforms', but needs to build them at home too.
2. In light of it, in the year 2007, Indian Air Force put up a demand proposal to the then UPA government, to buy 126 MMRCAs. An MMRCA is an acronym as well as an abberviation for 'Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft.
3. Indian government then floated tenders for MMRCA fighter jets in 2007. On August 28, 2007, 'Dassault' presented 'Rafale' as its bid. Russia's MIG-35, Swedish Saab JAS-39 Gripen, America's Lockheed Martin F-16, Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet and Euro fighter Typhoon were the other bidders.
4. On September 4, 2007, Ambani led Reliance group incorporated a new company named Reliance Aerospace Technologies Ltd. (RATL). There were undconfirmed reports that RATL and Dassault were in talks and had agreed for a joint venture which would have complied by all the requirements of the Indo-French deal in future.
5. On May 2011, IAF, shortlisted, Rafale and Euro-fighter jet as the chosen machines between which, the final choice was to be made.
6. In January 2012 the bids for India's new fighting jets were finally opened, and Rafale came up with the lowest bid as it also fulfilled all technical requisites.
7. As per forecasted IAF requirements, 126 MMRCA, double engined jets were required, out of which 18 were to be imported in a fly-away condition and the rest 108 jets were to be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), with assistance from Dassault.
8. On March 13, 2014, after detailed negotiations on pricing, technology, weapon system, customisation and work-share agreement having been reached between HAL and Dassault, the collaboration agreements were finally signed.
9. UPA led by Congress party, claimed that it negotiated a deal price of Rs 526 crore per jet.
10. Then in 2014, there was a change of government in India. Manmohan led UPA was replaced by MODI led NDA. There was a complete change of guard. India went through many haphazard policy changes, some desperately focused on showing who is in control, and some only to realign, and reassign the pieces of all cakes on table to new kids on the dance floor.
11. Come, March 28, 2015, and a new company called Reliance Defence, led by Anil Ambani, super tycoon, Mukesh Ambani's younger brother was incorporated.
12. On April 10, 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, flew to Paris and to steal international limelight and glory, he announces his government's decision to buy 36 Rafale fighters in flyaway condition, citing critical operational requirements of the Indian Air Force, at a price much higher tgan the one negotiated by previous government.
13. Then in June 2015, India's Defence ministry officially withdrew its tender of, 126 Jet aircrafts deal , which was about 18 jets to be brought in, in flying condition, and 108 to be made at HAL, Banglore. Reasons stated were that HAl is no good, where as it was in process of developing TEJAS, as well as already producing Sukhoi fighters. My point is, that, rather than asking HAL to pull up it's socks, why did a green horn Modi government just about decided to trash it, as also it cut down the order of 126 jets, bringing it down to 36, as well as, under what consideration did it engage n as yet unborn establishment named 'Reliance Defense', or whatever else one may call it.
14. Then in December 2015: Reliance entertainment invested 1.6 million euros in a movie co-produced by French president Hollande's partner Julie Gayet's media production firm named 'Rogue International' यानी हिन्दी में बोले तो,'अनतराषटरिय बदमाश'. According to French publication Mediapart, the investment was made by an investment fund of a Frenchman who had known Ambanis for 25 years.
15. In January 2016: French President François Hollande visited India on the occasion of Republic Day, and a memorandum of understanding on the purchase of Rafale jets was signed.
16. On January 24, 2016, our Dhanna-Seth Ambani's Reliance entertainment issued a press release announcing an Indo-French joint production "Number one" , co-produced by then French president's partner Julie Gayet. A pure coincidence I feel, or No?
17. In September 2016, India and France signed a final deal for 36 Rafale jets for euro 7.87 billion, approximately a whopping sum of Rs 59000 crores.
18. On October 3, 2016, Ambani's RDL and Dassault Aviation announced a joint venture, a contract, under which, Dassault was mandated to make compensation investments ( 50% of the value of the purchase offset investment) in India, and as a result in February 2017, Dassault Reliance Aerospace Ltd, (DRAL) was formed.
19. On December 12, 2017, While the opposition parties in india, continued with allegations of Modi government favouring Ambani's Reliance at the cost of Government owned HAL, Reliance Defence LTD's CEO Rajesh Dhingra said that his company received the joint venture contract directly from Dassault, and Government had no role to play in it, whereas on September 2018, French president Hollande, said that he had no choice in selecting the Indian offset partner, namely Reliance.
20. The issue at hand is,
(!) Under what considerations, the Indian Airforce's demand for 126 Rafael fighters was brought down to 36 ?
(!!) Under what considerations, the price per aircraft was increased three fold, but demand reduced almost to one fourth?
(!!!) Under what considerations, an experienced aircraft manufacturer like HAL was trashed, rather than having been improved, in favour of yet to be born Reliance Defense.
India seeks and shall continue to seek it's answers.
🚩TRUTH shall Prevail.🚩
📚Guru Balwant Gurunay.⚔
India seeks and shall continue to seek it's answers.
🚩TRUTH shall Prevail.🚩
📚Guru Balwant Gurunay.⚔
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