An operating Rafale in a flight demonstration on the Halim airport in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, March 25, 2015 ( AFP / File / ADEK BERRY)
India, which has just announced the acquisition of 36 aircraft Rafale, wants to negotiate directly with the French government purchasing additional devices, lack of progress in the ongoing discussions since 2012 on a giant contract with Dassault Aviation Group.
On a visit to France last week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had created a stir by announcing the acquisition 36 turnkey appliances to meet the urgent needs of renewal of the Indian Air Force.
The French Ministry of Defence had indicated to AFP that the exclusive negotiations launched in 2012 Dassault to provide 126 units of which 108 manufactured in India, continued.
But on Monday night, the Indian defense minister suggested that future acquisitions would be in a different setting, believing that these negotiations had stalled and led nowhere. “The process is blocked, he hit a wall and did not yield any results,” said Manohar Parrikar on IBN7 channel.
The purchase of Rafale “is a strategic purchase that should never have to go through a tender,” he added, saying “the previous government would have to go through a government to government agreement. “
Now,” all agreements will be government to government, “said the Indian minister was quoted by the Press Trust of India (PTI).
He stressed the need to rapidly strengthen the Indian defense. “The Air Force has an urgent need good fourth generation devices” (like the Rafale, ed), he continued. “Fifth-generation devices will only come in 10 to 15 years”
-. Uncertainties on the “Make in India” –
The discussions started in 2012 with Dassault Aviation on skating issues of aggregate cost of the part of innovative technological transfers.
Initially estimated at $ 12 billion, the contract seemed closer to $ 20 billion, the cost of production of 108 Rafale assembled in India under the leadership of the public group Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) proving higher than aircraft assembled in France.
According to the minister, the manufacture of a Rafale HAL would have required 2.7 times more man-hours of work in a French factory.
Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, wanted out of this impasse by directly controlling devices in France to modernize as quickly Army Indian Air (IAF), equipped partly ancient MiG-21 and MiG-27 Russian.
Francois Hollande and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Elysee Palace, April 10, 2015 in Paris (AFP / Alain Jocard)
L acquisition of 36 aircraft will not be enough to meet the needs of India, which is facing border tensions with China and Pakistan, are analysts.
“This has no meaning of a logistic or economic point of view, “notes Rahul Bedi, defense specialist for Jane’s Defence Weekly. The two governments “will have further negotiations and set new rules.”
The Indian minister has given no indication on how future devices could be assembled in India.
Narendra Modi has promised to revive the economy by attracting foreign investors to manufacture on Indian soil through its campaign “Make in India”.
In defense, foreign groups can hold up to 49% of a company, against 26% previously.
Sameer Patil, Gateway House think tank defense analyst, it will be difficult to create a complete assembly line Gust India without cost inflation.
However, “Indian subcontractors level 2 or 3 might provide components. Surely the government is considering this possibility,” said he told AFP.
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