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New Delhi: India will not bypass any of its defence acquisition procedures while fast-tracking the $20 billion Rafale combat aircraft deal for the Indian Air Force, a top Defence Ministry official said.
"During the discussions with French Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian, we told the French side that the acquisition process would be fast-tracked but also made it clear to them that no procedure would be bypassed and nothing would be done beyond the parameters of the Request for Proposal for the multi-billion dollar acquisition," a top Defence Ministry official told THE WEEK.
The French Dassault Aviation was selected by the Indian Air Force around three years ago after a long-drawn process for acquiring 126 multi-role combat aircraft for the IAF for replacing the ageing fleet of MiG 21s.
In the last two high-level meetings by the French Ministers, India had refused to give any assurance for the timelines for clinching the deal.
Extensive discussions between the IAF and the French side have been held but nothing much has moved from the Defence Ministry's side in the last three years.
The deal is at the moment stuck over the issue of accountability for delays in the programme, if any, in the future.
The French side wants the state-owned HAL to be held responsible for the delays whereas the Indian side wants Dassault Aviation to be held accountable for them.
As per the tender, the French side has to supply 18 Rafale aircraft to the IAF from its own factory and the remaining 108 would be manufactured and integrated by the HAL in India under licensed-production.
Dassault Aviation's Rafale fighter jet had beaten European Eurofighter, Russian MiG 35, American F-16 and F/A-18EF and Swedish Saab Gripen to bag the multi-billion dollar deal in 2011.
The Week | India to fast track deal, no bypassing procedures
"During the discussions with French Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian, we told the French side that the acquisition process would be fast-tracked but also made it clear to them that no procedure would be bypassed and nothing would be done beyond the parameters of the Request for Proposal for the multi-billion dollar acquisition," a top Defence Ministry official told THE WEEK.
The French Dassault Aviation was selected by the Indian Air Force around three years ago after a long-drawn process for acquiring 126 multi-role combat aircraft for the IAF for replacing the ageing fleet of MiG 21s.
In the last two high-level meetings by the French Ministers, India had refused to give any assurance for the timelines for clinching the deal.
Extensive discussions between the IAF and the French side have been held but nothing much has moved from the Defence Ministry's side in the last three years.
The deal is at the moment stuck over the issue of accountability for delays in the programme, if any, in the future.
The French side wants the state-owned HAL to be held responsible for the delays whereas the Indian side wants Dassault Aviation to be held accountable for them.
As per the tender, the French side has to supply 18 Rafale aircraft to the IAF from its own factory and the remaining 108 would be manufactured and integrated by the HAL in India under licensed-production.
Dassault Aviation's Rafale fighter jet had beaten European Eurofighter, Russian MiG 35, American F-16 and F/A-18EF and Swedish Saab Gripen to bag the multi-billion dollar deal in 2011.
The Week | India to fast track deal, no bypassing procedures
