NEW DELHI: Dassault picked Anil Ambani’s debt-ridden firm as a partner in India, “because it was registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and had land in Nagpur which provided access to the runway,” said top sources at the French firm, speaking to NDTV on the condition of anonymity. Dassault sources also told NDTV that they began engaging with Anil Ambani after the defence manufacturing company “changed hands” and was handed over by his older brother, Mukesh, to him.
Also, the plans for the joint venture were firmed up at Aero India, the massive air show held in Bengaluru in 2015, just 2 months before the Rafale deal was ann-ounced by PM Modi in Paris. Dassault maintains that it began talks with Mukesh Ambani’s firm in 2012 under the UPA dispensation, then switched over to discussions with the company headed by his brother. These sources said the statement by Dassault Chairman on the impending deal with HAL was because Dassault was hopeful of the (126 aircraft) deal and did not know what was happening inside the Ministry of Defence.”