With Rafale deal, Make in India is gone, says Congress

“During our time, there was some important requirements for finalising the contract: 1) 50 percent offset 2) We will purchase 18 from France and remaining 108 to be produced in India by HAL. 108 by the Indian public sector. That condition is gone. Make in India is gone,” he said. As per IAF, 126 was the minimum requirement for their urgent operational requirements,” Antony said.

“Sanctioned strength of fighter jets in the IAF is 42 squadrons, and of late, the situation was becoming critical and volatile. The IAF needs more squadrons, current availability of fighter jets is 32 squadrons, and by 2022, this will reduce to 25,” he said.

Citing the complaints of several leaders regarding the high price of Rafale jets, Antony said, “That time, I received a series of complaints from many responsible quarters, including from former finance minister Yashwant Sinha about the price,” he said.

However, during Modi’s visit to France in April 2015, India conveyed that it would like to acquire 36 Rafale jets in fly-away condition as quickly as possible in view of the IAF’s critical operational necessity for the multi-role combat aircraft.

Commenting on comparing the price of the deal, the Congress leader said, “There is absolutely no basis in comparing price during UPA’s time and present price because the contract had not been finalised then.”

“In our time, there was a provision that technology transfer is a must. I understand there is no such condition in the present contract,” Antony said, adding, “This will cost us very heavily.”

New Delhi and Paris signed the deal for direct acquisition of 36 Rafale fighter jets on Friday. The negotiations to buy the Rafale fighter jets came through on Wednesday and French Defence Minister Yves Le Drian arrived in the country on Friday to finalise the deal which will cost India €7.8 billion.

The development comes after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) discussed the deal and gave the green signal to go ahead with its signing to give a crucial boost to the Indian Air Force.