Rafale deal worth ₹29,000 crore scrapped at eleventh hour, here’s why

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Discussion is swirling about a potential Rafale deal between India and France. India is moving forward with the purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets from France at a cost of approximately ₹3.25 lakh crore. This deal is being widely discussed internationally. The Rafale's technical capabilities and its comparison with the American F-35 fighter jet are also being continuously discussed. Meanwhile, negative news related to the Rafale has emerged, with French company Dassault Aviation losing out on a major international deal.

In fact, Dassault had hoped that the South American country of Colombia would select Rafale fighter jets for its air force. Colombia was working on a plan to replace its aging fighter jets, and military officials there had openly praised the Rafale's capabilities. It is reported that a deal worth approximately 2.96 billion pounds (approximately 27,000 crore rupees) between the two sides was considered almost final, and most of the paperwork had been completed. Had this deal gone through, the Rafale would have replaced the Israeli Kirfir jets there. However, at the last minute, the Colombian government chose Sweden's Gripen fighter jet over the Rafale. No clear reason has been officially given for Rafale not getting the deal.

According to a report by bishopstrow.com, the Swedish company had made several attractive offers to Colombia, including promises of long-term industrial collaboration, technology transfer, the possibility of local assembly, and low operating and maintenance costs.

The Gripen is presented as an affordable and modern fighter aircraft for medium-sized air forces. It is relatively lightweight and more flexible, and is said to have lower operating costs than aircraft like the Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon. Colombia also believes that the Gripen deal could help develop a domestic fighter jet manufacturing ecosystem. This highlights the importance of purchasing fighter aircraft not only in terms of their capabilities, but also in terms of their long-term operational and maintenance costs.

The Colombian setback certainly raises the question of whether the Rafale's popularity is waning. Earlier in 2021, France suffered a setback in a submarine deal with Australia when Australia prioritized the US and UK. However, these events are not accurate in suggesting that the Rafale's luster is fading. The Rafale has found several new customers outside Europe, India being the most prominent.

The Rafale order book is currently strong. Nearly 300 Rafale aircraft have been delivered, making them a vital component of the French Air Force's strength. France currently has 234 Rafale aircraft in service and has pending orders for approximately 273 new aircraft. Countries considering Rafale purchases include India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, and the United Arab Emirates.

India has already purchased 36 Rafales for the Air Force and 26 Marine Rafales for the Navy from France. Additionally, India is preparing another major deal for 114 new Rafale aircraft, estimated to cost approximately ₹3.25 lakh crore. If this deal is finalized, India will become the country with the second-largest number of Rafale aircraft after France.