HAL Capable of Manufacturing Rafale Jets: R.Madhavan, Chief of HAL

The Chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) R Madhavan on Friday stated that HAL was perfectly capable of manufacturing the Rafale Aircraft, but implied in the current order of just 36 aircraft there will be no question of technology transfer.

The Congress has accused the central government of ignoring the state-owned HAL and buying the military aircraft from them.

French company Dassault Aviation. The opposition also claimed that the NDA government is buying the aircraft at a much higher price compared to the price that was being negotiated by the previous UPA government for procuring 126 aircraft.

The Opposition alleged the government for not suggesting the manufacture of some of the aircraft by HAL through the transfer of technology.

R Madhavan said the HAL was capable of manufacturing the aircraft when the initial discussions were going on. But the current government decided to purchase 36 aircraft as it was necessary to buy them as soon as possible.

He opined if 126 aircraft were bought, there could have been a chance of manufacturing some of the aircraft in the country through the transfer of technology. But for 36 aircraft the question of production here does not arise.

The NDA government has rejected the Opposition’s charge of paying higher prices, saying that there cannot be a comparison between a basic aircraft and a fully-loaded aircraft.