Why india opted for the rafale

Also read: Army plans to keep 2 strike corps for mountains facing China amid Ladakh crisis. This will also be raised during the strategic level talks and interactions between the two sides at various levels. In , France had written to the Modi government to opt for Make in India route for the Rafale jets. Dassault Aviation already manufacturers and procures engine doors and the canopy from India.

On 11 June , ThePrint reported that Dassault Aviation is likely to start manufacturing parts of Rafale fighter jets at its India facility even though it was not part of the original plans. The idea is to eventually build the Falcon entirely in India. Dassault Aviation would need a higher order of around aircraft to start a Rafale production facility in India, said the sources.

The chief executive of the French firm had said the same during the Aero India show in Asked if there is a possibility for Make in India if the French get additional orders for lesser numbers, the sources said it would not be possible but the French firm will increase sourcing of parts from India.

Also read: Upgraded Israeli drones, Airbus aircraft, Tejas — deals on defence ministry agenda for India needs free, fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism even more as it faces multiple crises.

But the news media is in a crisis of its own. There have been brutal layoffs and pay-cuts. The best of journalism is shrinking, yielding to crude prime-time spectacle. You can put a missile with a range of kms on the ground in Tibet or in India. He said the Rafales, with terrain following capability, will give India a major capability enhancement. The key role the Rafales will play in Tibet is information dominance and in case of Pakistan, it is a major deterrent.

Asked about the comparison between the Rafales and J fighter jets of China, he said the Chinese aircraft is not stealthy and presently, with its current engines, cannot supercruise unlike the newly-acquired Indian fleet.

In a beyond visual range BVR combat, he said Indian missiles are far superior than theirs. Both these platforms will give the IAF a tremendous capability jump. The Rafale in the air and S on the ground. The delivery of the missile systems is scheduled to begin next year. Rafale is a deterrent. The purpose of deterrence is not to fight a war. In this context, he also mentioned an operation by the IAF to drop bombs on a Pakistani post along the LoC in Kel sector in , and how Pakistani Air Force never dared to respond to it.

According to sources, the price of an aircraft is about Rs crore and India wants them for at least 20 per cent lesser. Though the initial plan was to buy jets, India scaled it down to 36, that too in ready condition.

How important is this deal to both India and France? Dassault is hoping that export of Rafale jets will help the company meet its revenue targets. India was the first country that agreed to buy Rafale, after it was used in Libyan airstrikes. If India inducts these jets in its military fold, other nations could express their willingness to buy the aircraft. Procurement of combat aircraft is long overdue for the IAF. Further delay can only make things worse. The talks on the Rafale sale have progressed slowly because of differences about how to price the transfer of technology, sourcing of spares and the selection of an Indian partner, two Indian Defense Ministry officials said.

The other official said the contentious points had been mostly resolved and the deal could be finalized as soon as July. At an air show in Bangalore last week, India pledged not to let defense cuts stand in the way of efforts to finalize the deal. Under the Rafale deal, Dassault is expected to send 18 ready-made jets, then manufacture the rest in India.