March 04, 2013: It has always been known that the MMRCA would provide one of the most complex technology transfers in Indian defence contracting history in terms of the scope of transfer and what the vendor is required to provide. That said, it is pertinent to note that the current negotiations between the Contract Negotiation Committee (CNC) and Dassault Aviation, centre around the modalities of this transfer of technology (ToT).

In an interesting segment in a recent presentation made by HAL Chairman R.K. Tyagi in Bengaluru, the challenges posed by this process was enunciated. It was a rare view of how HAL perceives what it likely to be its largest single project ever—both in terms of one-time numbers as well as infrastructure and capability accrual. Supplies are first routed from over 70 French OEMs to Dassault Aviation in France. These 70 OEMs along with Dassault will have to transfer technology to HAL separately after the initial flyaway aircraft are constructed in France for the IAF. Similarly Snecma and Thales will also have to transfer technology to HAL as well as over 20 Indian production agencies which will license produce parts and assemblies for the final license production at Bengaluru. The entire process is likely to be an extremely complex on considering that the Rafale has never been exported and is built on a single production line in France. HAL has also identified certain technologies that Indian agencies will pick up to accrue capabilities. These include AESA radar, EW suite, titanium allow super plastic forming, radio crystallography, co-cured composite stiffened parts, FADEC, robotic riveting, thermoplastic composites and microwave and digital jamming controller.