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Wait for fighter jet gets longer; govt to relook at process
KV Prasad
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 10
Wait of Indian Air Force for an early decision on finalising the contract to procure the much-awaited Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) just grew longer. The Government has decided to take a re-look at the entire process that declared French Dassault Aviation as the lowest bidder in the multi-billion dollar contract.

the trigger n Two officials associated with the Contract Negotiation Committee (CNC) had differed with the procedure through which ‘Rafale’ was determined as the lowest bidder as against the offer by ‘Eurofighter’ manufactured by European consortium Cassidian n  Defence Minister has also received anonymous letters pointing out to certain “loop-holes” in the various processes followed by the IAF and the Ministry The deal n  The IAF hopes to acquire 126 aircraft, with the first 18 in ‘fly-away’ condition and the rest manufactured in India under Transfer of Technology

Barely weeks after independent monitors submitted a report that the IAF/Government followed the procedure in identifying French ‘Rafale’ as L1 (lowest bidder), the Ministry of Defence decided that the entire process would be looked afresh after the Contract Negotiation Committee (CNC) completes its task.

Sources in the Government told The Tribune that after perusing the report of the three independent monitors appointed by the Central Vigilance Commission, it was decided that once the CNC finalises its recommendation, the Defence Finance will have to go through the process once again with a fine comb before it moves ahead.

The development assumes significance since two officials associated with the CNC had differed with the procedure through which ‘Rafale’ was determined as the lowest bidder as against the offer by ‘Eurofighter’ manufactured by European consortium Cassidian.

Doubts over the process were also flagged by Telugu Desam Party MP MV Mysura Reddy. The MP wrote a letter to the Defence Minister who has also received anonymous letters pointing out to certain “loop-holes” in the various processes followed by the IAF and the Ministry.

Besides insisting that the deal should be fair and transparent, as a matter of extreme caution, Defence Minister Antony outlined an eight-stage mechanism through which the deal will have to go through, including vetting by the CVC, before it finally reaches the Cabinet Committee on Security for assent. This re-look is an additional layer.

The minister has made it known the top military brass and also foreign vendors that he would not hesitate to cancel any defence deal at any stage if the Government detects the process has been vitiated. Sources in the ministry said in case the L1 is found not to be in order, the entire deal would have to be scrapped.