The second batch consisting of 3 Rafale fighter jets arrived in India on November 4 to give a significant boost to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The first fleet of Rafale fighter jets, that landed on July 29, was formally inducted into the ‘Golden Arrows’ squadron of the IAF at the Ambala Air Force Station on September 10 in presence of French Defence Minister Florence Parly, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria.
Here’s a timeline of the deal:
July 2014: After Narendra Modi came to power, France’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development Laurent Fabius met PM Modi to finalise the Rafale deal.
The deal for 126 aircraft is finalised with French aviation major Dassault being selected after winning the tender in 2012, beating Eurofighter’s Typhoon and Swedish Saab’s Gripen-D light fighter.
December 2014: India and France agree to decide pricing and a guarantee clause for Dassault to fast-track the deal for 126 Rafale fighter jets.
The issue is discussed during delegation-level talks between then defence minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian.
January 2015: According to reports, Parrikar acknowledges serious problems in negotiating the purchase of the fighters. The defence minister says that additional Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, which HAL builds in Nashik, were adequate for the IAF in case it was decided not to procure the Rafale.
April 2015: Prime Minister Modi visits France.
On April 10, 2015, after negotiations and meetings, India announces to buy 36 Rafale fighters in fly-away condition.
May 2015: Both the countries decide to start work on the acquisition of 36 Rafale fighter jets in a time-bound manner after meeting between Le Drian and Parrikar.
June 2015: The deal will be finalised within “two to three months”, says French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.
January 2016: Nearly two years after the original announcement made by Modi and Hollande, French Ambassador Francois Richier says a “complex negotiation” process is going on for the deal.
February 2016: The price still remains an issue and Parrikar says that deal was deadlocked and that no deal would be signed until the price was right.
March 2016: The Union Law Ministry raises questions over several clauses in deal ‘compromise’ India’s interests.
October 2016: Business tycoon Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence and Dassault Aviation announced a joint venture.
September 2018: Former French President Francois Hollande told a French media organisation that he had no choice in selecting the Indian offset partner and the name of Reliance was given by the Indian side.
Hollande’s interview adds fuel to the fire in controversy. India’s Ministry of Defence issues statements reiterating that neither government was involved in the commercial decision. Dassault Aviation issues a statement claiming it was Dassault’s decision to choose Reliance.
The Congress alleges that NDA signed the contract with France at a much higher price than negotiated during the UPA rule. Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders demand the government to reveal the price of the deal. The government denies, saying price disclosure is covered under the secrecy clause of the deal.
As many as four petitions are filed in the Supreme Court seeking the price of the deal, demanding an answer to why Reliance was selected as the offset partner and process followed to finalise the deal.
November 2018: A Supreme Court bench, headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi, reserves verdict in the case.
December 14: The Supreme Court dismisses all pleas saying that it found nothing wrong with the Rafale deal and demanded a court-monitored probe into it.
January 2019: The Congress attacks government and accuses it of corruption. It claims that it has audio recordings that prove a Goa BJP minister saying that former defence minister Manohar Parrikar possesses all files related to the Rafale jet deal. Rahul Gandhi seeks permission to play Goa tape in Lok Sabha.
February 2019: PM Modi questions Congress and says that it does not want the Air Force to be strong.
May 2019: The top court reserves the order on the pleas filed by former union ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie, lawyer Prashant Bhushan and others against the SC’s judgement.
The Centre seeks dismissal of the review petition. Some documents related to the Rafale fighter deal came out in a section of the media.
November 14, 2019: The Supreme Court rejects petitions seeking review of 2018 decision, which gave a clean chit to the government in the deal with French firm Dassault Aviation.
July 27, 2020: Five Rafale fighter jets leave for India from France, will arrive in India on Wednesday, July 29.
July 29, 2020, 3.14 pm: The Rafael fighter combat aircrafts landed at the Ambala Air Force Station, Haryana.
September 10, 2020: The first batch of Rafale fighter jets officially inducted into the ‘Golden Arrows’ squadron of the IAF.
November 4, 2020: Second batch of Rafale fighter jets, consisting of 3 planes, arrived in India.
