Rafale 114 Fighter Deal Hits Pause Defence Ministry Flags 'Incomplete' IAF Proposal, Seeks More Talks with Dassault

114 架阵风战机交易陷僵局:印度国防部指空军提案不完整,要求与达索展开进一步谈判

Saying that the Indian Air Force's "Statement of Case" or SOC for the purchase of 114 fighters as "incomplete," the defence ministry wants "further discussion with Dassault," the manufacturers of the Rafale warplane. Dassault, the French manufacturer,which has given 36 fighters to IAF and also, to the Navy, is one of the top contenders for the 114 fighter deal.

印度国防部表示,印度空军关于采购 114 架战斗机的"项目需求说明"(SOC)"不够完整",要求与"阵风"战机制造商达索公司"进一步磋商"。法国制造商达索此前已向印度空军和海军交付 36 架战机,是该 114 架战机采购项目的首要竞标方之一。

The "incomplete" issue comes up as there is a strong view that there can be much more indigenisation of the warplane, in line with India's atmanirbharata or self-reliance policy, top government sources told TIMES NOW. India is making two important points:

政府高层消息人士向《时报此刻》透露,此次"资料不全"问题凸显出印度内部强烈主张应进一步提高这种战机的本土化水平,以契合"自力更生"国家政策。印度政府主要强调两大重点:

1. The bulk of the production of the 114 fighters have to be in India. Yes, some can and will come in flyaway condition, but the bulk have to be made in India. Naturally, the numbers or how many will arrive in flyaway condition and how many will be made in India, where the manufacturer will have to set up a factory, presumably with an Indian partner, will have to be worked out during the negotiations.

1. 114 架战斗机中的大部分必须在印度生产。是的,部分可以且将以成品状态交付,但主体必须在印度制造。自然,具体数量——即多少架将以成品形式交付、多少架将在印度本土制造(制造商很可能需与印度合作伙伴共同设立工厂)——都将在谈判过程中确定。

2. The indigenous content cannot be a token 10-15 percent. It must be much more substantial, maybe upto 75 percent or more. Then, Indian defence-sector firms, both government-owned and private, can benefit from this deal. This is also a rare opportunity to play the self-reliance card, sources added. Dassault is keen on setting up a maintenance, repair and overhaul centre in India, in Hyderabad.

2. 本土化内容不能仅是象征性的 10-15%,而必须大幅提升,可能达到 75%甚至更高。这样,无论是国有还是私营的印度国防企业都能从中获益。消息人士补充称,这也是打出"自力更生"牌的难得机遇。达索公司正积极寻求在海得拉巴建立印度本土的维护、修理和大修中心。

The IAF did buy 36 Rafales and that was a government-to-government deal, but this one, assuming it will be to Dassault, will not be a repeat order. This will be a separate deal. Initially, after extensive trials, the IAF had shortlisted two fighter aircraft: the Rafale and the Eurofighter, not considering the American F-16 and F-18, the Swedish Gripen or Russian aircraft. But the negotiations did not go the distance as there were two major differences between the defence ministry and Dassault. First, if they were to be made in India by a government sector firm, who would take the responsibility for the delays? Secondly, the actual cost of production of the planes was also an area of disagreement.

印度空军确实采购了 36 架"阵风"战机,但那属于政府间协议。而本次若与达索直接签约,将不是追加订单,而是一笔全新交易。最初经过严格测试后,印空军候选名单仅剩"阵风"与"欧洲战斗机",未考虑美国 F-16/F-18、瑞典"鹰狮"或俄制战机。但由于国防部与达索存在两大分歧,谈判未能持续:其一,若由国企在印度本土生产,延期责任由谁承担?其二,飞机实际生产成本也存在争议。

The IAF does need fighter planes and while Hindustan Aeronautics should deliver 180 Tejas1As in the next seven-eight years, there is also a need for the 114 as the IAF's number of fighter squadrons (each one has 18-20 aircraft) is down to about 30, when the requirement is roughly 40. The current fleet has some aging planes, including the Jaguar and the MiG-29. Besides the two squadrons of Rafale fighters, the IAF also has Dassault's Mirage-2000.

印度空军确实需要战斗机,虽然印度斯坦航空有限公司将在未来七八年内交付 180 架"光辉"1A 型战机,但空军仍需那 114 架战机,因为其战斗机中队数量(每个中队配备 18 至 20 架飞机)已降至约 30 个,而实际需求约为 40 个。现役机队中包含部分老旧机型,如"美洲虎"和米格-29。除两个中队的"阵风"战斗机外,印度空军还装备有达索公司的"幻影"-2000。