IAF plan to buy refuellers hit by 39-year-old probe

[RPK]

The Indian Air Force's (IAF) move to purchase six Airbus in-flight refuelling aircrafts has hit a roadblock after a complaint was received about a long-pending investigation against the aircraft maker.

The IAF had selected the A330 multi-role tanker transport (MTT) aircraft after competitive bidding last year but ongoing negotiations for signing the final contract have now been delayed.

Sources said the defence ministry referred the matter to the law ministry after a member of Parliament complained that a CBI probe against Airbus in connection with an old deal with Air India was pending.

The IAF had selected the A330 multi-role tanker transport aircraft (above) after competitive bidding last year



Sources said the complaint pertained to a contract signed in 1975. The mid-air refueller deal joins the club of other pending high-ticket IAF contracts.

Price negotiations for the purchase of 22 Apache attack helicopters and 15 Chinook heavy lift helicopters are in the final stages but the contracts are only likely to be signed by the next government.

The IAF, which currently operates Russian-origin Il-78 refuelling aircraft, selected the A330 after extensive trials. The aircraft was found to be capable of handling the IAF's demand for refuelling a variety of fighters from Su-30 MKIs to Mirage 2000s.

It is already being used by the air forces of Australia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the UK. Officials said the law ministry's opinion in similar cases is that business with the company can continue till its name figures in a charge-sheet.

Even as purchase of the refuelling aircraft and the helicopters remains stuck, some movement has been made on the mother of all deals – a contract to buy 126 Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft.

After Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Rafale's maker Dassault finalised the work-share agreement, work on finalising the draft contract has begun. According to the arrangement, HAL's work-share has gone up to 70 per cent from 58 per cent.

Apart from HAL, around a dozen Indian companies have partnered with Dassault for license production of Rafale.



Read more: IAF plan to buy refuellers hit by 39-year-old probe | Mail Online

 

[Daedalus]

Someone decided to wake up the bogieman.

 

[trident2010]

same story lolzz

 

[thesolar65]

Think it like this way. After independence every purchase in defence or rather any purchase by any Govt. by any PSUs(be it SAIL, BHEL/ONGC/NTPC whatever organisation you name) from any foreign countries have been through middlemen (visible or invisible)!!. For every bullet you have to pay some commission!! Now what to do? Hopeless situation!!

I think best would be legalise middlemen. Tax them heavily and make them responsible for after sales service and if they falter send them to jail for a long time. Or make every bidder come through an Indian Private sector as partner and that partner should be responsible for any after sales service and supply of the same in case of any sanction etc.

@HariPrasad @gslv mk3 @Abingdonboy @Water Car Engineer @Indischer @DRAY @Dillinger@GR!FF!N

 

[HariPrasad]

Since you are unable to remove middle man than we should legalize them? That is not fair.

 

[thesolar65]

Since you are unable to remove middle man than we should legalize them? That is not fair.

But give some solution, but this way we will blacklist every firm and there will be none to supply us the required hardware. Can you really be sure that this thing is not happening in other sectors also? You cannot stop it, they will be there always!!

I have always thought of this like "Buddha asking that woman to bring some mustard grain from a single house where no one has died!!"

 

[sancho]

after a member of Parliament complained that a CBI probe against Airbus in connection with an old deal with Air India was pending.

It's unbelievable how easy it is in India to block deals, by getting politicians with no relation or even knowledge whatsoever to state a complain. We saw the same with the Rafale deal as well, where delays was caused by a silly MP that was complaining.

 

[T90TankGuy]

It's unbelievable how easy it is in India to block deals, by getting politicians with no relation or even knowledge whatsoever to state a complain. We saw the same with the Rafale deal as well, where delays was caused by a silly MP that was complaining.

Yeah some random tdp Mp caused this. The problem is that in our system an accusation is treated with more weight then facts.

 

[Dash]

It's unbelievable how easy it is in India to block deals, by getting politicians with no relation or even knowledge whatsoever to state a complain. We saw the same with the Rafale deal as well, where delays was caused by a silly MP that was complaining.

I guess because of election season govt had to look at this allegation. else I dont think there should be any problem when 100s of AIrbus are flying with so many jet liners. shouldnt be a big deal.

 

[sancho]

I guess because of election season govt had to look at this allegation. else I dont think there should be any problem when 100s of AIrbus are flying with so many jet liners. shouldnt be a big deal.

It seems to have more to do with the fact that an official complain must be investigated according to the rules in India, same happened in the Rafale complain as well. The problem is only, that any useless complain must be investigated, as long as it comes from an MP, no matter how silly the claims are. There should be a key to go on with the process, while a minor group of the Law or Defence ministry, would deal with the complain itself first, to see how credible it is, before everything will be stalled for a major investigation.

 

[Dash]

It seems to have more to do with the fact that an official complain must be investigated according to the rules in India, same happened in the Rafale complain as well. The problem is only, that any useless complain must be investigated, as long as it comes from an MP, no matter how silly the claims are. There should be a key to go on with the process, while a minor group of the Law or Defence ministry, would deal with the complain itself first, to see how credible it is, before everything will be stalled for a major investigation.

I guess they will do just as you said, the tanker deal is a different thing altogether than Rafale.
If someone was aware of it Airbus shouldnt have received the RFI at the first place. Its too late as the investigation predates the RFI.

 

[OrionHunter]

After Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Rafale's maker Dassault finalised the work-share agreement, work on finalising the draft contract has begun.

Huh? So our bozos are now setting up their offices, with peons, chaprasis, sweepers, drivers, vehicles, subsidised canteen, office equipment etc. Then they'll start putting their sparse brain cells together to discuss the date to commence the making of the draft contract, over endless tea breaks. Optimistically, that'll be 1 year at least.

Then endless discussions will take place. Files will float back and forth between various ministries including law, finance, external affairs, home and the PMO's office. That would take about 2-3 years.

Then they'll put their grey cells to work again and start making some draft contract which they'll send to sir Antony (if elected again as MoD boss) who will smell a rat and ask for amending the entire draft. Sheeesh!

Back to square one. Restart/reboot. Time taken 3-4 years at least to finalise just the draft!!!! By the time the first Rafale is inducted into the IAF it would be around 2025. I'll be probably dead and gone by then. So would Sir Antony!

Cheers!

 

[thesolar65]

Just legalise middlemen, find a way through it. How? I do not know right now, but we have to. Just give it a thought.

@Dash @sancho @OrionHunter

 

[Dash]

Just legalise middlemen, find a way through it. How? I do not know right now, but we have to. Just give it a thought.

@Dash @sancho @OrionHunter

If we are talking about legalizing middle men who LOBBY on behalf of a company and take a commision is not a big deal, shouldnt be a problem.
But these cases where people from IAF, netas are involved makes it useless. just empower CSC, and give it an extended role should do IMO.

 

[thesolar65]

If we are talking about legalizing middle men who LOBBY on behalf of a company and take a commision is not a big deal, shouldnt be a problem.
But these cases where people from IAF, netas are involved makes it useless. just empower CSC, and give it an extended role should do IMO.

Well, at least a good suggestion to begin with. But the Govt. is not coming up with any suggestion. Just sitting idle like those three monkeys will only harm the nation. Some where I read that we have only ammunition to fight for 20 days only!!