Indian Air Force to fly Dassault Rafale after a $10.4 billion deal

Dassault Rafale emerged winner

Finally India concluded its shortlisting procedure for the acquisition of 126 Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) for an international defense deal, largest single order floated by India. The French with their Dassault Rafale have been chosen over Eurofighter Typhoon backed by Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain.

 Each and every aircraft had points in its favor and against it. It is useless to discuss their performance or capabilities because each one of them is amazing in its own terms. No wonder IAF took so much time in choosing the aircraft closest to their requirement, testing the machines to their limits in desert conditions, high altitudes and  many other different conditions, situations and scenarios. Also analyzing the economy of total requirements, offset costs, life-cycle and other prospects.

For people new to news, whole story in short :

India floated an international tender for procurement of 126 MRCAs, stated as the biggest India deal worth a whopping $10billion. Aircrafts were to fill the increasing void in the Indian Air Force due to its depleting squadrons and the phasing out of ageing aircrafts like the MiG 21 and already retired MiG 23s. IAF is functioning far below its sanctioned strength of 39 squadrons, with give the nature of situation in the sub-continent urgency to fill the gap felt and hence the mammoth deal. Also, high rates of crashes and a delayed LCA Tejas contributed to the factors.

A brief of participating countries and companies with their aircraft and there fate in the deal.



Dassault Rafale, France

Dassault Rafale in single and twin seater configuration

Dassault has been in India for long, currently with Mirage 2000 it’s already having IAF as a client. Rafale emerged as we can say first among equals. Initial French bid of Mirage 2000-5 was replaced by Rafale since closure of Mirage production lines. Though French bid of Rafale also had a bumpy ride but with it suiting to IAF’s needs, French lobbying and some lucrative offers helped Dassault to get ahead of others in the race. Also, already impressed by Mirage’s show in Kargil war, full technology transfers and not been supplied to any other neighboring country also favored to Rafale’s case. Availability of naval version of the Rafale (Rafale M) provided an edge to the bid over others.



Eurofighter Typhoon, Europe

Eurofighter Typhoon 

Typhoon made to it to the final two of the aircrafts selected, backed by Britain, Spain, Germany and Italy. Similar to Rafale in specs with some of the components been offered to be developed in India. Lost out to Rafale, with Dassault bidding a lower bid than that of its rivals. Also offered were thrust vectoring and invitation to India to participate in the Eurofighter Typhoon Program. Although British PM stating that he will ask India to 'reconsider' the decision. IAF currently does not operate any aircraft from Europe other than the French, so its induction would have meant for a whole new structure to be established and would have slowed the induction of Typhoon and IAF with it's depleted strength in a tensed region could not afford it.

Saab Gripen NG, Sweden

Saab Gripen 

Saab Gripen was the smallest of all the aircrafts in terms of airframe and only single engine aircraft other than F-16 Super Viper. Saab even announced a R&D center in India to develop hardware for aircraft and other needs in India only. It is state of the art and very agile capable of more than Mach 2. Initially offered Gripen did not impressed IAF much, it was after this that improved version of Gripen, Gripen NG was offered to India with improvements in overall features. But it was ousted with the other aircrafts above, reason as stated by some was it's reliance on US supplied parts mainly including its powerhouse the GE F414 engine.

Lockheed F-16 Super Viper & Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, US

Lockheed F-16

Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet

Despite heavy lobbying and pressure from the US, the both aircrafts from Boeing and Lockheed didn’t made to the last two. F-16's were first introduced in 1978 and since has been mainstay of USAF and many other air forces around globe. US supplying F-16's to Pakistan, issues of transfer of technologies and further future scenario in case of US sanctions leading to unreliable supplies worked against the two aircraft. Though F-16 offered to India was proposed to be most advanced F-16 made and option to provide F-35 Lightning as a future replacement. Though it's been said that it has no relation to the deal, US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer resigned.


Mikoyan MiG-35 - Russia

Mikoyan MiG-35 final version was
 unveiled in Aero India 2007

Developed from MiG-29 by Mikoyan which India already operates, also MiG-29K the naval version of MiG-29 aircraft is due to be delivered with INS Vikaramaditya formerly Admiral Ghorshkov. Initially MiG-35 existed as a demonstrator only and the final version for production was introduced to the world first time in Aero India 07. Constant renegotiations on other deals, already India sourcing much of its military hardware from Russia contributed to the causes of not been selected in the deal despite lobbying. India also is already still in process of acquire it's full order of Sukhoi 30MKI. India is already developing 5th generation fighter jointly with Russia which is expected to be inducted around 2015 in the Indian Air Force.

Though the official documents have not been yet signed and can take many months or even a year to finally confirm the deal. But for now after many failed attempts to sell Rafale, the French are on the final stage of the deal and they are alone. If finalized, then India has kept an open option of buying ~70 more aircraft, the probability of which is very high and with the current economic condition of Indian Rupee this deal could well cross $20 billion mark.

Dassault are delighted, Sarkozy is also happy and may use this to his advantage in the coming French elections, after all he has a proven track record of clinching deals, at least in India’s case. To be noted that when he toured India in 2010 he took deals worth $20 billion with him considering that it was more than even what Obama took with him in return for the nuclear deal. Although the president is not enjoying popularity among French people, this deal could prove to be a breather for him. Also it can be argued that due to the elections around the corner the French president was desperate to seal the deal, beneficial for not only Dassault (who before this failed to sell Rafale due to some or other reason) but also for others involved in the Rafale program like Thales, Safran and the French defense industry, not to mention the president himself.

Lately the US Ambassador to India, Timothy Roemer resigned and British  PM David Cameron said that he would ask India to 'reconsider' its decision on Rafale in favor of Eurofighter Typhoon, guess someone is already started facing heat on failing to grab the deal. With the  given economic conditions of the west and especially Europe with its weakening Euro and slumping economy, further tremors are expected to be felt by whoever was associated with an unsuccessful bid.
This further confirms the fact despite of denials that politics do affect everything whether it is a defense deal or a nuclear deal.

Dawn of British Rule in India - The "amazing" Battle of Plassey,1757

Positions of two forces
Red are the British

Nearly for 200 years India was ruled by the British. The British rule in India is remembered for the suffering of local people and exploitation of the country in all possible ways spanning from natural to human resources. But its also true that the it was under the British, that the fighting princely states of India were united to form majority of the country under one rule, although many were added afterwards but the rough draft of the country was drawn. It all started in battle of Plassey which was the battle that established British as the dominant force in sub-continent or we should say paved way for the British to establish their rule in the sub-continent. Although this was one of the main battles which became the reason for the British Rule in sub-continent majorly India and thus, is important part of history It just occupies nearly one paragraph or half a page (in case of some generous books) in our history books taught to children. We are made to learn the dates, between who and who the battle was fought and who won, but never are we told why did the British win or how the battle affected the future events and that's Indian education system for you.

For people who don't know anything here are some facts :
Battle was between the British and the Nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-Daulah the last independent Nawab of India, the British were led by Colonel Robert Clive.  Nawab had wealthy states of Bihar and Bengal stretching to most of Bangladesh and Orrisa.

Date 23 June 1757 Location Palashi, Bengal Subah Result Decisive victory for the British East India Company Territorial changes Bengal annexed by British East India Company
Belligerents
British East India Company	Bengal Subah  French East India Company
Commanders and leaders
Colonel Robert Clive Major Kilpatrick Major Grant Major Eyre Coote Captain Gaupp	Siraj ud-Daulah Mohan Lal Mir Madan  † Mir Jafar Ali Khan(defector) Yar Lutuf Khan (defector) Rai Durlabh (defector)  Monsieur Sinfray
Strength
750 European soldiers 100 Topasses 2,100 Indian sepoys 100 gunners 8 cannon (six 6-poundersand 2 howitzers)	35,000 infantry 18,000 cavalry 53 field pieces (mostly 32, 24 and 18-pounders) 50 French artillerymen (6 field pieces)
Casualties and losses
22 killed (5 Europeans, 13 Indians) 50 wounded (15 Europeans and 30 Indians)[1]	500 killed and wounded

Since it can be seen that facts or stats are from Wikipedia obviously, since I am not good at statistics and by no means an expert in history.
Anyone just with a glance of stats can't help but, amazed on how come Nawab lost the battle.

Siraj-ud-Dualah had earlier captured Calcutta by attacking the British at Fort William due to the refusal of British to stop fortification of their positions in Bengal, in the wake of Seven Year war with the French in the west. He was aware of the global British interest in colonization and hence, resented the British politico-military presence in Bengal represented by the British East India Company. Since French were also present in Bengal at Chandernagar, the British and French began consolidating their positions, which to the Nawab, was an offensive act.

Jawaharlal Nehru in his book Discovery of India quotes:
"" In Bengal, Clive, by promoting treason and forgery with very little fighting , has won the Battle of Plassey in 1757, a date which is sometimes said to mark the beginning of the British Empire in India. It was an unsavoury beginning and sometimes of bitter taste has clung to it ever since.""

Treason as it is visible from the above facts, was from the Nawab's side. From 3 of his generals.
Mir Jafar Ali Khan was the main defector. The British(Clive) knew that the only way they can win this hopeless situation is to turn people against one another (sounds like still happening ) already major part of British army consisted of Indian soldier as the stats show. Mir Jafar was grand uncle to the young Nawab Siraj-ud-Dualah and since he was adopted by his grandfather Alivardi Khan who's death resulted in Siraj-ud-Dualah being made Nawab. Mir Jafar who considered himself legitimate heir to throne, became a General in Nawab's army. Though there was another contender elder sister of the deceased Nawab but the British and Clive(clever chap..) choose Mir Jafar Ali Khan and promised to make him next Nawab of Bengal. Finally, on June 5, 1757, a written agreement was signed between the Company, represented by Clive, and Mir Jafar, ensuring that Mir Jafar would be appointed Nawab of Bengal, once Siraj-ud-Daulah was deposed. It was also the classic case of military failures on the part of Nawab's army and relying on assumptions rather than getting first hand information from the battlefield.

On the eve before battle their were heavy rains and the gunpowder Indians had was drenched and those intelligent souls assumed that the British will also suffer same fate but British had their gunpowder covered, rest you can sum up. Moreover the French had provided them with their little artillery (goodwill, probably should have provided with a General to lead Nawab's army). French thought that with Nawab's army British had no chance and it would help them eradicate British from Bengal and country eventually. Sadly for French with Nawab's defeat their presence in Bengal ceased and eventually from country(this sounds familiar). The British acquired large amount of wealth from Bengal which helped East India Company to establish British Rule in India. Bengal was among the most richest and wealthiest state at that time. Though its another case that severe drought soon followed the British occupation.
As for that clever chap Robert Clive he was made first Governor of Bengal in 1765, interestingly he commited suicide after becoming addicted to opium.

Indian General lacked experience in unconventional warfare and on the other hand Robert Clive and the British had loads of experience in both conventional and unconventional treason forgery etc) from wars they fought in different conditions and different continents.Also before this the British had and were fighting series of wars or conflicts in Southern India and around Godavari delta. Therefore instead of panicking running like the Nawab's army did after brave general of artillery Mīr Madan died on being hit by a cannon ball, the British followed the orders and stood their grounds not to mention the agreement with Mir Jafar earlier. Though on first assault they were randomly firing in all direction since due to heavy fog there was not even walking visibility.

Re quoting Jawaharlal Nehru in his book Discovery of India :

"" In Bengal, Clive, by promoting treason and forgery with very little fighting , has won the Battle of Plassey in 1757, a date which is sometimes said to mark the begning of the British Empire in India. It was an unsavoury begining and sometimes of bitter taste has clung to it ever since.""

Plan of battle by Robert Clive

As fate would have it many more acts of treason like that of Mir Jafar continued and are happening till the present times affecting the country and its people. Moreover people are still fighting among themselves although the British and Robert Clive are long gone. Even today the country goes through same battles and with same results although the perspective has changed the scenarios have changed the times have changed and enemy has become from one to many both outside and within the country. As they say "history repeats itself", in this case history has repeated many times and still sadly no lessons learned. Its no longer about direct military wars there is a whole new set of warfare and proxy wars out there ranging from economic to electronic. Still you can see many Mir Jafar Ali kind of characters and even their approach has changed instead of supporting, now days these Mir Jafar's have moved a step ahead now they lobby for the enemy, surely times have changed.
Don't know why we consider it as just another battle in history. Probably it shows that we don't learn from our history or failures. This was and  is the main difference between us and the west history is for learning and thus should be respected and not considered irrelevant.
History teaches and repeats itself.

All above things are on net since I am no historian and like me if you want to take a look you obviously can.


""I knew that this battle was important in the history of India but was amazed when studied about it in detail and decided to share events with you""
There maybe some confusion on exact facts, who did what and statistics well which piece of history doesn't have its share of controversies and who cares. Overall I found the story was interesting and worth sharing.