Asia

Rafale Dassault gifted 1 million Euros to Indian middleman?

Rafale Dassault gifted 1 million Euros to Indian middleman? French combat jet manufacturer company Dassault paid one million euros (Rs 8.6 crore) to an Indian middleman after the Rafale fighter jets deal between India-France agreement in 2016, a French magazine Mediapart report has revealed Dassault has not been explain to French anti-corruption agency, Agence Française Anticorruption (AFA), the total amount 508,925 euro was paid under “gifts to clients”, an investigation into Dassault group’s 2017 account books has revealed.

In 2016, India and France signed a Rs. 59,000 crore deal, under which Dassault manufacture 36 Rafale jets for India. Dassault agreed to pay the amount to one of its sub-contractors in India, Defsys Soultion. Defsys provides solutions for defence and aerospace applications and owned by Sushen Gupta. Gupta was earlier arrested for his alleged role in Agusta Westland VVIP Chopper money-laundering scam in March 2019.

In 2017, the AFA was checking whether large companies are following the anti-corruption procedures set out in the French law as Sapin 2.

In 2018, AFA spotted possibilities of corruption in the Rafale deal, AFA held audit of Dassault and found an item of expenditure, under the heading “gifts to clients”, cost 508,925 euros (Rs 4.3 crore). AFA asked Dassault for an explanation. Dassault said that money was used to pay for the manufacturing of 50 large replica models of Rafale jets. However, Dassault was not able to proved to the AFA that the models were actually made. Each model costs 20,357 euros.

Now, this news is surfaced after the report of Mediapart, it revealed that the AFA did not alert the prosecution authorities over the payment, this scandal raises question on the both the justice system and the political authorities.

Aerospace

India is in talks with Nigeria regarding the export of its single-engine Tejas and Prachand helicopter

Philippines in Talks to Procure India's LCH Prachand Helicopter

India is actively exploring its defense market and making audacious moves to establish itself as a significant player in targeting the African defense market to sell Tejas and Prachand.

According to the sources, Nigeria, in negotiations to purchase Indian aircraft such as the LCA Tejas and LCH Prachand, has recently opted to acquire the M-346FA light fighter-trainer aircraft from Italy. This decision comes after expressing dissatisfaction with the performance of the JF-17 Thunder jets, signaling a shift away from acquiring additional JF-17s.

How will be the Tejas Mark 2 compared to the F-16 block 50/52?

India is actively challenging Russia and China’s long-standing dominance in Africa, focusing on the lucrative market. While the India-Nigeria connection is longstanding, it’s rapidly evolving. In the fiscal year 2021-22, India emerged as Nigeria’s largest trading partner.

In March 2024, India intensified efforts to explore potential exports. A defense industry delegation visited Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, signaling India’s interest in exporting its single-engine Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.

Building the LCA Tejas Mark 2 prototype could take longer than expected.

Recent reports suggest Nigeria is considering acquiring 15 fighter jets to replace its aging Chengdu F-7NI fleet, with India emerging as a leading supplier, proposing its indigenous Tejas fighter jet.

The HAL Tejas is an advanced Indian multirole combat aircraft featuring a delta wing design, produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. It serves as a pivotal asset for air defense, maritime reconnaissance, and strike missions, tailored to excel in high-threat scenarios. With nearly 40 initial variants already inducted, the Tejas stands as a cornerstone of the IAF’s operational capabilities.

Comparison of the Tejas Mark1 vs korean T-50 Golden eagle

Previously, Nigeria had explored Indian-built options such as the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) ‘Prachand,’ Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) ‘Dhruv.’

The Prachand helicopter, designed for battlefield deployment as an attack helicopter, stands out with its advanced weaponry and avionics. Positioned to compete with helicopters like the Apache, Turkish T129, and the European Tiger, Prachand emphasizes India’s capability to produce unique and technologically advanced military assets.

Beyond military hardware, India’s strategic move includes establishing a local currency settlement system with Nigeria, a development of notable economic significance forged in May 2024.