New Delhi: The Comptoller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report on Rafael deal tabled in Parliament reveals that the price of the aircraft is cheaper by 2.86%, breaking the opposition’s claim of a major scam.
In addition, the CAG report says that the NDA government’s deal has actually saved 4.77% on services, product support, technical service, documentation and machinery adding up to 17.08% in total savings for the country.
The government has asked for 13 ‘specific enhancements’ for the aircraft in view of Indian Air Force’s unique needs. The price of these enhancements is also lower. The prices of three items including the aircraft are the same and for others the price is less.
Moreover, NDA’s deal concerning the time for handling over the aircrafts is also better than the previous UPA’s deal. NDA’s deal will procure the first 18 jets within 36 to 53 months and the rest within 67 months.
However, under the earlier UPA regime deal the first batch of 18 jets would have taken 50 months and for the rest it would have taken 49 to 72 months.
With India’s heightened security concerns, early induction of Rafael jets is a boost to Air Force capabilities.
