New Delhi: While the decision to buy 36 Rafale aircraft in fly-away condition address the immediate concerns of the Air Force, the surprising part of the announcement is the timing since the deal was on the verge of collapse. Just last month, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had reiterated that France had to adhere to tender norms. He had also said that if the deal was to fall through, India would buy additional Sukhois. Officials, however, indicated that there was potentially a larger “Make in India” component to the direct purchase by inviting Dassault to partner with an Indian private entity and build more Rafales in India. Some see this decision as an acknowledgement that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is not capable of producing an advanced aircraft and irrespective of what is said, the fact remains that no private player in India has the capability to execute such a sophisticated project.
11/04/15 Dinakar Peri/The Hindu
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11/04/15 Dinakar Peri/The Hindu
