Ofc capex projects goes through multiple rounds of review and approvals. Joke was on the project management team which in this case happens to be govt. who took 12 years to decide that the project is not suitable. Even if the time line is ruled out, how can u explain the lengthy process which the air-force had to go through ? The sheer man hours (resources ) wasted for over a decade ?
And why did the project got cancelled after selection of L1 or L2 vendor ? That too after 5 years of selection ?
Well, oversimplification usually points towards ignorance,
Formal Proposals were submitted by 28 April 2008, i.e 7 years ago,
On 27 May 2009 Indian Air Force completed the technical evaluation of all 6 fighter jets.
The IAF was to complete an evaluation report on the six fighters in July 2010 and then begin to shortlist them based on the air force's evaluations, i.e. 5 years ago.
The two competing financial bids were formally opened on 4 November 2011. i.e. 4 years ago.
On 31 January 2012, it was announced that the Dassault Rafale won the competition and has been selected for exclusive negotiations. (i.e 3 years ago)
Despite efforts, negotiations had once again stalled by October 2014,
due to disputes over final costs and technology transfers. According to official reports, Dassault remained unwilling to be held liable for the 108 Rafales to be manufactured under licence by HAL, Unlike SU30MKI....
Hope that gives some perspective on you 12 year timeline.
As far as the project management team, it went right through G0 through G5, but timelines are based of the availability and participation of the international vendors, their technical teams.
One place where the IAF went wrong was to improper evaluations of the life cycle costs, it should not have accepted vendor submitted estimates, and have added a penalty cost for iability to stick to the cost submitted in the proposal.