New Delhi: An internal document of Dassault Aviation, the makers of the Rafale fighters, shows that the French firm chose to engage Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence as the offset partner in India to win the Rafale deal, according to a report by French investigative journal Mediapart.
The Mediapart article says the document shows a top Dassault official, Loik Segalen, had explained to its staff on May 11, 2017, that the joint venture was a "trade-off", that was "imperative and mandatory" to win the Rafale deal.
Dassault Aviation, however, has denied the report. "This joint-venture, Dassault Reliance Aerospace Ltd (DRAL), was created February 10, 2017. Other partnerships have been signed with other companies such as BTSL, DEFSYS, Kinetic, Mahindra, Maini, SAMTEL,... Other negotiations are ongoing with a hundred-odd other potential partners," Dassault said in a press release.
The new allegations surfaced on a day when Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was headed to France where she will visit a Dassault factory where the 36 Rafale aircraft are being manufactured for India. Ms Sitharaman will also meet her French counterpart, Florence Parly.
Here are the highlights of the story:
Oct 11, 2018 16:37 (IST)
"You have jeapordised the national security of the country," he said
Oct 11, 2018 16:36 (IST)
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said that the Indian Air Force chief said Rafale is a game changer, asking if Rahul Gandhi should be believed or the Air Force chief
Oct 11, 2018 14:19 (IST)
BJP National Spokesperson Sambit Patra to address a press conference at 3:30 PM
Oct 11, 2018 12:37 (IST)
Rahul Gandhi is addressing a press conference on new report on Rafale
Oct 11, 2018 11:17 (IST)
The previous Congress-led UPA government had negotiated with Dassault for 126 Rafale jets under which 18 jets were to be sent in a fly-away condition and 108 were to be assembled in India by HAL. The deal was scrapped. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the new deal for 36 Rafale jets after holding talks in Paris with then president Hollande.
Oct 11, 2018 10:46 (IST)
The new allegations surfaced on a day when Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was headed to France where she will visit a Dassault factory where the 36 Rafale aircraft are being manufactured for India. Ms Sitharaman will also meet her French counterpart, Florence Parly.
Oct 11, 2018 10:46 (IST)
Dassault Aviation, however, has denied the report. "This joint-venture, Dassault Reliance Aerospace Ltd (DRAL), was created February 10, 2017. Other partnerships have been signed with other companies such as BTSL, DEFSYS, Kinetic, Mahindra, Maini, SAMTEL,... Other negotiations are ongoing with a hundred-odd other potential partners," Dassault said in a press release.
Oct 11, 2018 10:46 (IST)
The Mediapart article says the document shows a top Dassault official, Loik Segalen, had explained to its staff on May 11, 2017, that the joint venture was a "trade-off", that was "imperative and mandatory" to win the Rafale deal.
Oct 11, 2018 10:46 (IST)
An internal document of Dassault Aviation, the makers of the Rafale fighters, shows that the French firm chose to engage Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence as the offset partner in India to win the Rafale deal, according to a report by French investigative journal Mediapart.