CLARIFICATION: The headline has been modified from “36 Rafale Fighters For IAF An ‘Expensive, Unprofitable Decision,’ Dumping MMRCA A Blunder: Ex-Indian Air Marshal”.
Air Marshal M. Matheswaran firmly believes that the 126 MMRCA deal should have gone through as it would have addressed IAF’s operational requirements more effectively and boosted India’s aerospace industry enormously through technology transfer and creating state-of-the-art production infrastructures along with high-levels of skill development for our workforce.
The Western countries and certain Indian defense analysts are seeking to downplay the new Chinese aircraft of an unspecified generation that has taken social media by storm. But, it is difficult to negate that a series of bungled acquisition processes has left the Indian Air Force (IAF) high and dry.
Air Marshal M. Matheswaran (retired), who oversaw the tendering process of 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) for the IAF, says that not going ahead with the contract despite a long-drawn acquisition process was not the right decision.
“MMRCA should have gone through. It was a blunder not going for it. It would have brought world-class manufacturing facilities to India and skill development. The French were backpaddling on the transfer of technology that HAL could not meet standards. It was a delaying strategy, and India should have dealt with it firmly,” Air Marshal Matheswaran told the EurAsian Times.
The IAF proposed in August 2000 to acquire 126 Mirage 2000 II aircraft. The proposal was discarded in 2004, and in 2007, a decision was taken to acquire 126 aircraft under MMRCA. The MMRCA deal was in process for nearly 15 years before the Indian government scrapped it and purchased 36 Rafales directly from the French government.
By April 2010, IAF completed its technical evaluation of the six contenders (Russia’s MiG-35, US’ Lockheed Martin F-16IN “Viper” and Boeing F-18E/F “Super Hornet,” France’s Rafale, EADS’ Eurofighter Typhoon, and Sweden’s JAS-39 “Gripen”) on the basis of 643 technical parameters. The aircraft were tested in varied terrain and climates – ranging from high altitude and high temperature in Ladakh in summer and high altitudes with sub-zero temperatures in Ladakh in winter.
Rafale and Eurofighter were shortlisted on the basis of technical evaluation, the IAF announced in April 2011. Rafale was later identified as the lowest bidder, L1, and protracted contract negotiations began.
Reports at the time indicated that Dassault was not keen to adhere to the terms set out in the initial tender, especially the offsets and the transfer of technology clauses.
Battle Of Kinmen: When Taiwan Defeated China Not Once But Twice & Repelled Invading PLA Troops
As per the tender, 18 aircraft were to be purchased in fly-away condition, and the remaining 108 were to be manufactured by the public sector aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). However, Dassault was reluctant to work with HAL.
In September 2016, the Indian government decided to scrap the deal and opt for 36 Rafales in flyaway condition as an emergency procurement.
IAF needed to meet urgent requirements and was facing a shortage of modern aircraft. However, the new deal to procure only 36 Rafales was controversial and reached the Supreme Court, thus delaying the procurement timeline.
The then IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa later said that the results (of Balakot strikes in 2019) would have been skewed in India’s favor had the Rafales been inducted in time.
France delivered all 36 jets by December 2022. India has now signed a contract to procure 26 Rafale-M jets for the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers.
Matheswaran contends that it was not the best option. “Going for 36 Rafales was not the best option as it was not only expensive, it also did not benefit the Indian industry at all. Having delayed 126 MMRCA and later cancelling it, we put ourselves in a corner leading to emergency procurement of 36 Rafales,” he added.
The IAF veteran believes that high-value defense contracts should be done between the governments, keeping the country’s strategic interest in mind.
“High-value defense contracts should be government to government as we have to keep the national interest paramount and not prove to the world that our tendering system is the best,” says Matheswaran, adding: “India needs to negotiate with 2-3 countries simultaneously to service maximum leverage. Those who meet our requirements and are ready for ToT should be asked to come and manufacture in India. There is no other way to give a boost to our industry and get a highly skilled workforce.”
MRFA – The MMRCA Reincarnated
Despite the acquisition of 36 Rafales, the fighter squadrons of the IAF have been plummeting. With its fleet low to its 1965 force level, it needed immediate acquisition to plug the gap, as the new iteration of indigenous Light Combat Aircraft was already seven years away.
But there seems to be a delay, if not a slip, between the proverbial cup and lips. The IAF floated the RFI in 2018 for 114 Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) and got an enthused response from aircraft makers worldwide for the multi-billion-dollar deal.
The leading contenders in the fray are Dassault’s Rafale, Boeing’s F-15EX, and Lockheed Martin’s F-21. Saab’s JAS-39 Gripens, Eurofighter Typhoons, and Russian Su-35 fighters are also in the fray. However, it is awaiting Acceptance of Necessity from the Indian government
The force has agreed to acquire the MRFA under the ‘Make in India’ policy, where the aircraft will be licensed-produced in India. The IAF is hopeful that this will help in carrying out upgrades and modifications to the aircraft as and when required.
The IAF needs a lot of aircraft to be recognized as a deterrence to the PLAAF (the People Liberation Army Air Force). The Indian Ministry of Defense has finally seized on the matter. It has set up a defense committee composed of the Defense Secretary and Deputy Chief of Air Staff to look into the matter.
In a candid assessment of the IAF and its adversary, PLA Air Force, the IAF Chief Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh said in October: “As far technology is concerned, we are lagging behind. We were better than them sometime back, we are lagging in that. We need to catch up. In terms of manufacturing (aircraft and equipment), we are lagging behind.”
Exclusive: How Indian MiG-21s Thrashed F-15 Eagles During Military Drills, Shocking USAF Pilots
China could deploy 1000 J-20 ‘Mighty Dragon’ 5th-generation jets by the time India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) starts flying.
The IAF Chief underscores that considering India does not intend to go on the offensive, the force “can hold on its own.”
The question remains: even if it does not want to go on an offensive against China, can the IAF hold on its own against two adversaries armed to the teeth should they decide to open two fronts simultaneously? IAF must answer this question honestly without any further delays.
