The Indian Air Force (IAF) is mulling issuing an “open tender” for the procurement of 114 medium-role fighter aircraft (MRFA), with production taking place at home.
This will be a departure from the previous procurement process wherein 36 Rafale fighter jets were bought from France under a government-to-government deal in 2016.
According to Asian News International, the Indian government wants to avoid “controversy” that trailed the estimated 7.87-billion euro ($8.56 billion) deal with allegations of corruption.
The deal, in turn, was initiated to break the logjam with Rafale manufacturer Dassault over disagreements with the purchase of 126 aircraft for the IAF under the original procurement competition.
The negotiations for the purchase dragged on from 2012 to 2015, resulting in the deal being called off.
“Last time, the government came out with a solution to the MMRCA (Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) tender, stuck for years, by going in for a government-to-government contract for 36 Rafale. But a political slugfest erupted,” The Print quoted a source as saying.
“Officers presented themselves in the Supreme Court and documents concerning vital national interest had to be shared. It became a political hot potato.”
Open Tender
The Indian government issued a request for proposals for the MRFA in 2018, receiving responses from six companies: Boeing, Dassault, the Eurofighter consortium, Lockheed Martin, Mikoyan, and Saab.
Most of the companies have already participated in the MMRCA competition, which was clinched by Rafale after beating the Eurofighter Typhoon on price.
Rafale’s naval version was also later selected for the Indian Navy’s two aircraft carriers as a replacement for its aging MiG-29s.
Fresh Trials
A new competition for the MRAF risks further prolonging the procurement process at a time when the IAF’s squadron strength is down to 31 against a sanctioned strength of 42, with two more squadrons set to retire next year.
However, having “limited trials” of the aircraft to fast-track the process is not an option as the jets have undergone “multiple upgrades” since the last time they were evaluated by the IAF in 2010-11, The Print wrote, citing sources.
The aircraft that participated in the MMRCA competition were Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault’s Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab’s Gripen, the Mikoyan MiG-35, and Lockheed Martin’s F-16.
Lockheed Martin has replaced the F-16 with an India-specific F-21 for the new competition, while Boeing is pitching an additional option in the form of its F-15EX.
Rafale’s Huge Backlog
Another reason New Delhi is looking for a fresh procurement process is Dassault’s perceived inability to supply the Rafale in a short-to-medium time frame due to a huge backlog of orders from other countries, according to Asian News International.
The outlet said that the Rafale’s order book would not allow Dassault to commence the supply of the aircraft to India in under 10 years.
Domestic Production
Meanwhile, the Indian government is also considering stipulating the requirement of “full production” of the aircraft in India in a joint venture with a local partner, according to The New Indian Express.
Aircraft components are already being produced in India as part of purchase agreements. However, full aircraft production would be a significant development.
Accompanying it is the need to transfer technology, which Dassault is not keen to do, according to the outlet.