Why Was HAL Excluded from India’s Rafale Fighter Jet Deal? | Rafale vs Make in India Explained

Описание: Why Was HAL Excluded from India’s Rafale Fighter Jet Deal? | Rafale vs Make in India Explained

The exclusion of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) from India’s Rafale fighter jet deal with Dassault Aviation remains one of the most debated decisions in Indian defense procurement. Officially, the government stated that Dassault was unwilling to take responsibility for aircraft manufactured by HAL, leading to the selection of a private-sector offset partner instead.

However, this explanation raises serious concerns. HAL is far from an inexperienced manufacturer. It has produced over 200 fighter aircraft, including the Mirage 2000, and built more than 2,000 aircraft such as the Jaguar and Su-30MKI. HAL was also Dassault’s long-standing licensed production partner, making its exclusion even more controversial.

Former HAL Chairman T. Suvarna Raju publicly confirmed that HAL was never consulted before being removed from the Rafale program. Around the same time, India’s defense offset policy was modified, allowing foreign vendors to select their own Indian partners. This change enabled Dassault to choose Reliance Defence, a company with no prior aerospace manufacturing experience, incorporated just days before the deal was announced.

The decision had major consequences. With HAL excluded, India missed a critical opportunity for deep technology transfer, domestic fighter manufacturing capability, and long-term self-reliance under Make in India. There was no access to aircraft source codes, system architecture, or design data—leaving India dependent on foreign approvals for upgrades, maintenance, and weapons integration.

Unlike platforms such as the Su-30MKI, where India has greater control over avionics and weapon integration, the Rafale limits India’s autonomy. Integrating indigenous missiles and systems requires repeated permissions from France, creating strategic and operational constraints.

There are also unresolved concerns over delivery timelines. While Rafale Marine variants are expected for naval operations, the proposed acquisition of 114 additional fighters (MRFA) lacks clarity. This uncertainty creates a capability gap for the Indian Air Force, especially as it awaits the full induction of Tejas Mk1A and Mk2.

From a financial and strategic standpoint, Dassault Aviation’s limited scale further raises questions about long-term lifecycle support without strong Indian industrial participation.

In conclusion, excluding HAL from the Rafale program has restricted technology transfer, indigenous capability building, and operational flexibility. Instead of strengthening India’s aerospace ecosystem, the deal risks long-term dependence on foreign suppliers—challenging the core objectives of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Rafale fighter jets

Rafale deal India

114 Rafale jets proposal

Make in India Rafale

Indian Air Force modernization

Rafale offset policy

Reliance Defence Rafale

HAL exclusion controversy

Dassault Aviation India deal

Rafale technology transfer

Source code access issue

MRFA fighter jets

Indian defense procurement

Air Force capability gap

Tejas Mk1A and Mk2

Indigenous aerospace ecosystem

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