Politicising defence procurement...

Unfortunately, aspirations of the IAF were shattered as the contract negotiations got bogged down over some issues that proved to be insurmountable. In the seven years that the UPA Government was responsible for this project while it was in power, the contract for 126 Rafale jets could not be finalised possibly on account of the indifferent approach of the establishment towards the erosion of the operational capability of the combat fleet of the IAF and its implications for national security. As a result, in 2014, the NDA Government inherited the MMRCA project that had actually run aground with practically no possibility of its revival. The responsibility now lay on the NDA government to fulfil the aspirations of the IAF to be able to induct modern combat aircraft to enhance its operational potential to the level required for it to be in a position to be able to successfully confront challenges looming large over the horizon.

In less than six months after assuming office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke the logjam with the MMRCA contract with an alternative proposal to purchase 36 Rafale jets (equivalent of two squadrons) through an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA). Thereafter the tender for 126 MMRCA was cancelled as it had reached a dead end. Described as a “masterstroke”, the IGA for 36 Rafale jets was duly processed in accordance with the provisions of the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) and the contract was signed in September 2016 by the Defence Ministers of the two nations involved. Delivery would commence three years later i.e. from September 2019 and be completed by 2022. Through the pro- curement of 36 Rafale jets, the NDA Government has fulfilled the mandate, at least partially, of restoring the operational potential of the combat fleet of the IAF. Integral to the agreement is the option with the Government of India to place orders for additional aircraft in the future. Action is also in hand to have a foreign OEM set up a production facility in India to manufacture in collaboration with an Indian partner a proven single-engine combat aircraft in large numbers to restore the full operational potential of the IAF.

The Final Word

Whether there is any truth in any if these allegations or not, what is notable is that the contract for 36 Rafale jets was signed more than a year ago, but there had been no comment from the Congress party till last week. The timing of the move to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in all likelihood, appears to be aimed at influencing the forthcoming elections in Gujarat and later in the national elections two years later. In the final analysis, it appears nothing more that blatant politicisation of defence procurement. Such political machinations would ultimately be detrimental to the effort by the IAF to upgrade operational capability in the future and in the final analysis, would impinge on national security as well. Unfortunately, such conduct will also erode the level of confidence that the IAF ought to have in the political leadership of the country who apparently are quite prepared to compromise even national security for political gains. A sad state of affairs indeed!