New Delhi: Criticising the phrases of the proposed drone cope with the US for 31 MQ-9B drones estimated at $3 billion, the Congress Wednesday alleged that it was one other “Rafale rip-off” within the making and that the proposal entails India procuring the unmanned aerial automobiles (UAVs) at 4 occasions the value paid for every by different nations.
“Issues that occurred within the Rafale deal are being repeated within the procurement of predator drones. Drones which have been purchased by different nations at a worth 4 occasions decrease, we’re spending Rs 880 crore per drone on them. We now have purchased 31 drones for Rs 25,000 crore,” alleged Pawan Khera, chairman of the Congress’s media and publicity wing.
Dismissing claims about India shopping for ‘overpriced drones’ as “speculative”, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had in a press release issued Sunday stated that the “worth and different phrases of circumstances of the acquisition are but to be finalised and topic to negotiations”.
New Delhi and Washington introduced a proposed deal for 31 Basic Atomics MQ-9B Excessive-Altitude Lengthy Endurance (HALE) UAVs, also called Reaper drones, throughout Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s just lately concluded ‘official state go to’. As a part of the deal, it was agreed upon that the procured drones will likely be assembled in India.
Of the 31 drones, the Navy is predicted to get 15 Sea Guardian drones, whereas the Military and the IAF will every get eight Sky Guardian drones.
Addressing a press convention on the social gathering headquarters in Delhi Wednesday, Khera referred to the Reaper drones as “outdated know-how”, including that the US “doesn’t even use these drones anymore”.
“Drones that are outdated by way of know-how are being purchased at a worth which is 4 occasions greater (than earlier procurements). You aren’t even taking the complete know-how, then why are you giving Rs 25,000 crore? Is there one Pegasus (spyware and adware) free with every drone? Is there any deal about electoral bonds with every drone?”
LIVE: Congress social gathering briefing by Shri @Pawankhera at AICC HQ. https://t.co/yJ4HOsoAwM
— Congress (@INCIndia) June 28, 2023
Khera’s reference was geared toward a report by The New York Occasions from final 12 months which urged that India purchased Pegasus — military-grade spyware and adware developed by the Israeli firm NSO — as a part of a defence cope with Israel.
Throughout the press convention, Khera additionally alleged that the highest administration of Basic Atomics has ties to somebody within the Modi authorities.
“Who’s the director (of the deal)? As a result of the corporate from which these drones are purchased, Basic Atomics, the CEO of that firm has deep and intimate relations with somebody in Prime Minister Modi’s authorities, as everyone knows,” he alleged.
Khera referred to that individual as ‘Drone-acharya’ — a reference to the character of Dronacharya from the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
Additionally Learn: Inside story of why India’s army labored to push mega US drone deal
‘Rs 25,000 cr dinner?’
Questioning the state dinner hosted by US President Biden and First Woman Dr Jill Biden for PM Modi, Khera requested, “We now have additionally had dinners overseas, as have you ever. However have you ever ever had a dinner the place the nation has to offer Rs 25,000 crore? That’s why we wish to know who’s behind the drones.”
Khera additionally criticised Modi for saying the proposed drone procurement deal with out the nod of the Cupboard Committee on Safety (CCS), which contains the PM, the defence minister, the Union dwelling and finance ministers, and the minister of exterior affairs.
He requested if this proposed deal was ‘not paying homage to the Rafale deal during which Modi unilaterally signed a deal for 36 Rafale plane with out the data of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) or the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA)’.
“If we get solutions to all of those questions, solely then will the nation be happy that this isn’t a rip-off. In any other case, as of at this time, all of the indicators are there that that is blowing up into an enormous rip-off,” he stated.
Additional, he has sought particulars from the central authorities about funds allotted to the Defence Analysis and Improvement Organisation (DRDO) for the event of indigenous drones. “What occurred to ‘Make in India’? DRDO was given Rs 1,786 crore for the event of ‘Rustom’ and ‘Ghatak’ drones. You gave Rs 1,786 crore to DRDO and then you definitely went to America and gave them Rs 25,000 crore for drones,” he stated.
Talking on behalf of the Congress social gathering, Khera additionally alleged that the proposed deal for procurement of 31 HALE UAVs was introduced regardless of the Indian Air Pressure (IAF) expressing reservations in regards to the drones’ “skyrocketing costs”.
“Our Air Pressure demanded 18 drones and they’re being given 31,” he stated.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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