The delivery of the first batch of much talked about and one of the most controversial defence deals of India after the Bofors gun scandal controversy, 5 Rafael fighter jets have reached India. India signed a deal with Dassault Aviation of France to buy 136 Rafael jets on 31 January,2012 along with an option of 63 additional aircrafts. The first 18 Rafael aircrafts were to be supplied by Dassault Aviation fully built and remaining aircrafts were to be built under licence by India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited as per the agreement.

Situations changed when government at the centre changed and the Modi government after doing a stock take of situation of India’s defence capabilities changed the entire procedure of agreement and decided to deal with French government directly to minimise the cost and to fast track the deal. During this period the cost of aircraft got escalated and the new government also added lots of new tactical warfare to be fitted in aircraft to make more attacking and fearsome fighter jet.

As Indian Air Force was lacking very badly on its squadron numbers so Modi government decided to acquire 36 fully built Rafael jets citing critical operational necessity. The deal to buy 36 operational ready fighter jets was signed at the lowest price of Euro7.87 billion which was much lower than earlier quoted price of Euro11.8 billion in 2015 and later Euro 8.6 billion quoted in January,2016. this decrease in price could happen due to change in escalation formula from a fixed 3.9% to a floating rate linked to European inflation indices along with a cap of 3.5%. The deal was marred by political controversy when Congress Party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala accused Modi government of doing financial bungling in the deal and also that why the government bypassed HAL approved Sukhoi fighter jet and chose Dassault Aviation’s Rafael jet.

During 2019 elections, the then Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made the deal an election issue and kept accusing the government and Modi in particular of corruption in the deal which was later given a clean chit by the Apex Court that no irregularity was found in the entire deal and everything was done by following all the laid down procedures. Modi government chose to buy 36 planes in the first stage to urgently fulfil the Air Force requirement of 2 squadrons which were the need of hour and at look at situation today, the first batch has arrived just in time.

The situation at borders today between India and China and also with Pakistan is so explosive that war between the adversaries could start any time. So, there could not be a better time for these one of the best fighter jets in the world to reach India, than now. Government of Indian has also ordered France, HAMMER standoff missile with the capability to take out any types of targets up to the range of 70 kms using emergency powers to acquire them for armed forces in a war like situation. All the Indian Air Force pilots who flew the jet to India were getting trained in France for many months and will later be given training in India as well for basic war worthiness and maintenance. The Chief of Air Staff later visited the Air Force Base to receive and inspect the prize possession and to give his nod.

Despite of continuing controversies and lots of efforts still being made by opposition parties and Congress party in particular to carry on the issue, its time now when all the controversies should be put to an end, keeping national security interests in mind. Nothing can be more important for any person political or non- political, more than the safety, security and integrity of their nation and today is the time for all Indians to stand together and stand united.

-Yugal Parashar