The Gripen did not come cheap to Brazil - it costed 4.5 billion for 36 jets - 125 million a piece.
Rafale pricing wasn't much too different or much higher than 125 million, though one can argue about operational costs.
It did, but the total price of an order is related to the total number of fighters that will be procured. The lower the number, the higher the total / unit cost. The Rafale was the most expensive fighter in the Brazilian competition, be it per unit or operational costs. The fly away cost was reported between $80 and 90 millions, the system cost between $145 and 200 million, while in Switzerland 18 x Rafales were offered for a system cost of around $167 millions each.
But as I said, even if the system cost for us would be at $150 millions eact, we still would only be arount $19 billions, far away from the speculated $25 or even 30 billions and the most important figure to compare the price is the fly away cost, which always was far below $100 millions, contrary to what the opening article said.
it will be stupdity to buy these planes at this very moment when the real threat (from China and not Pak) cannot be dealt (defensively or offensively) with such aircrafts in the numbers that could be bought.
Just imagine if billions of rupees are plowed into local programs.
LCA experience may be bad
But conditions in India have dramatically changed in the last 15+ years.
Involving public-private partnership and spending this kind of dough will ultimately result in 10 times more planes than buying complete system from outside.
it is time for Indian baboos to trust Indian youth's intelligence and smarts to develop things inn a nice manner
When a country can send a mission to mars,
then it doesn't need to spend money on buying completely/finished systems or complete system kits.
You mean like the billions China spend in R&D but still remains far behind Russia or the west in engine or radar developments, despite sending rockets to the moon?
Please, lets not get into pointless discussions here, money is not equal to know how and experience, that's why JVs partnerships and cooperations will give India far more than money could buy.
