One of the key reasons cited by the Centre for entering into an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) with France for 36 Rafale fighter jets was to ensure quick availability of aircraft to meet the IAF’s critical operational needs. However, an audit report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has revealed that there is an improvement of only one month when compared with the terms as per the 2007 proposal for the supply of 126 jets under the MMRCA tender.

“Audit noted that as against the delivery period of 72 months in the earlier offer the contracted delivery schedule for 36 Rafale aircraft was actually 71 months,” the CAG said. The auditor also noted that the Indian Negotiation Team (INT) had apprehensions about the achievement of “even this delivery schedule.”

According to the original delivery schedule offered by Dassault Aviation in 2007, first 18 flyaway aircraft were to be delivered between 37-50 months from the signing of the contract and the next 18 jets, licence produced in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), were to be delivered 49-72 months from the signing of the contract, CAG noted in its report.

During the IGA negotiations, the INT pressed for an earlier delivery time frame but finally the delivery schedule offered by the French side was 18 aircraft by 36 to 53 months after the contract and the remaining 18 jets by 67 months.

The Indian Specific Enhancements (ISEs) on the first jet would be completed 63 months from contract signing and integration on the next 35 aircraft would be completed in the next eight months, CAG noted.