Dassault Insists on Latest Rafale Version for India, Doubles the Price

[INDIAPOSITIVE]

Dassault has offered the latest version of the Rafale fighter, the F3R for nearly double the price of the F3 version it originally bid with in the Indian fighter aircraft competition.

The company is reportedy insisting that India take the latest version as the French company is upgrading aircraft in the French Air Force to the F3R version and all future aircraft manufactured will be of the latest version.

After it was declared the lowest bidder in the Medium Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MMRCA) competition, the French manufacturer upped the price from about US$ 65 million a unit to US$120 million a unit in mid-2014. The price hike is one of the main bones of contention which is delaying the deal.

The reason for the hike is that the F3R version launched in 2014 incorporates major software changes that will complement the Thales RBE2 active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar and allow the aircraft to deploy the MBDA Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile, along with improvements to the aircraft's Thales SPECTRA self-defence system and Mode-5/Mode-S-compatible Identification Friend or Foe interrogator/transponder.

Offering a different configuration aircraft at a higher price is in violation of the original Request for Proposal (RFP). Perhaps it is for this reason that an Indian news agency quoted an unnamed Indian official on January 4 as saying that Rafale has been told, “stick to the RFP”. India is insisting that Dassault cannot renege on the RFP clauses, the report said.

An Indian defence analyst Bharat Karnad writing in the Indian Express newspaper commented on reasons for the price hike that Dassault sought to replace the Rafale originally offered with the “slightly better” F3R version, promised a mid-life upgrade to incorporate the AESA radar and suggested India’s future fifth and sixth generation combat aircraft needs be met by the “F4R” and “F5R” configurations now on the drawing board.

Dassault Insists on Latest Rafale Version for India, Doubles the Price

 

[Khalid Newazi]

US$ 65 million a unit to US$120 million

Are these amounts Flyaway costs for each plane?

 

[Bombermanx1]

This was already addressed in "Ditching Rafale" Thread.Bharat karnad explained what is wrong with the Dassault deal and how French were milking the Indian government using a novice like RATPL instead of HAL and doubled the price of the jet.
This has to stop somewhere.

 

[The SC]

Dassault has offered the latest version of the Rafale fighter, the F3R for nearly double the price of the F3 version it originally bid with in the Indian fighter aircraft competition.

The company is reportedy insisting that India take the latest version as the French company is upgrading aircraft in the French Air Force to the F3R version and all future aircraft manufactured will be of the latest version.

After it was declared the lowest bidder in the Medium Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MMRCA) competition, the French manufacturer upped the price from about US$ 65 million a unit to US$120 million a unit in mid-2014. The price hike is one of the main bones of contention which is delaying the deal.

The reason for the hike is that the F3R version launched in 2014 incorporates major software changes that will complement the Thales RBE2 active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar and allow the aircraft to deploy the MBDA Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile, along with improvements to the aircraft's Thales SPECTRA self-defence system and Mode-5/Mode-S-compatible Identification Friend or Foe interrogator/transponder.

Offering a different configuration aircraft at a higher price is in violation of the original Request for Proposal (RFP). Perhaps it is for this reason that an Indian news agency quoted an unnamed Indian official on January 4 as saying that Rafale has been told, “stick to the RFP”. India is insisting that Dassault cannot renege on the RFP clauses, the report said.

An Indian defence analyst Bharat Karnad writing in the Indian Express newspaper commented on reasons for the price hike that Dassault sought to replace the Rafale originally offered with the “slightly better” F3R version, promised a mid-life upgrade to incorporate the AESA radar and suggested India’s future fifth and sixth generation combat aircraft needs be met by the “F4R” and “F5R” configurations now on the drawing board.

Dassault Insists on Latest Rafale Version for India, Doubles the Price

This is more expansive than the F-35 itself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?

 

[Tshering22]

This is more expansive than the F-35 itself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?

Most likely Parikkar will scrap the deal and go for more super-MKIs instead (new variants).

I hope they do that.

They're offering a Rafale that is as costly as a 5th generation jet. Non-negotiable.

 

[Black Mamba1]

Its nothing but a corporate war. Rivals are trying to derail the deal. Nothing else.

 

[Echo_419]

Most likely Parikkar will scrap the deal and go for more super-MKIs instead (new variants).

I hope they do that.

They're offering a Rafale that is as costly as a 5th generation jet. Non-negotiable.

The French are messing with the wrong people we ain't paying 135 mil a piece for a 4.5 gen fighter

 

[chairborne ranger]

Well screw them then. Let them shoot themsleves on the foot.

 

[Superboy]

Ripoff. Even if deal signed today, won't deliver the first plane 10 years from now. Look what France did to India with Scorpene deal and how France screwed Russia with Mistral deal.

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Sukhoi-30 MKI and Tejas pls
This is going to end as a blessing in disguise for LCA programme.

 

[Luca1]

But Tejas would not be produced fast enough. So the number of squadron in India would decrease. India should negotiate with two finalists.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Yet more misinformation and from defence world no less, it's a shame so many seem to fall for this hook line and sinker....

 

[Luca1]

Yet more misinformation and from defence world no less, it's a shame so many seem to fall for this hook line and sinker....

So you agree that India should pay double the price. It's more than f-35 per plane.

 

[Steakhouse]

India got a good deal in the original contract, instead of sign the contract 5 yrs back, India bargaining hard to squeeze everything out from the deal, French didn't budge on India demand, 5 yrs later India Tejas still not field by Indian air force and dire need fight jet to field up the diminished squadron, as much French want this contract to sign by India, they in no hurry to sell to India base on India asking price, time adjust inflation with French agree for a ToT of the Rafael, French won't turn over the top of the line jet manufacture without consider their lost on future earning and not to jack up the price for the future cost compensation.

 

[Malik Alashter]

Why not India go for more super mki plus rushing the tejas like instead of all these billion goes to rafale why not they spend one quarter of them on tejas use another quarter to develop a meduim class fighter and I think India can do it all you need is more confidence in you. while the other half put it on buying more super MKI.