Dassault Well Positioned To Supply Additional 90 Fighters To India: Eric Trappier

[Zarvan]

We will be well positioned to provide additional 90 aircraft, if New Delhi confirms its need for 126 combat aircraft, Dassault CEO Eric Trappier said.

In an interview with French news daily, Challenges, Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier said Monday that, “Significant progress in the Rafale deal with India has been made and I sense a real determination to succeed, possibly in the coming weeks.”

When asked whether US competitors doing the rounds to New Delhi and proposals of assembly lines for F-16s and F-18 in India are a threat to Dassault, Trappier said, “ After the 36 fighter aircraft, all candidates including Russians, the British, Swedes and, of course, Americans are all lobbying against us. All candidates have promised assembly sites to win the following 90. Offering a factory set-up of F-16s to India even while selling the same aircraft to Pakistan, the US does not seem serious. The US has already won contracts with the Air Force for transport aircraft in particular.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/15...Fighters_To_India__Eric_Trappier#.Vx5FclOfc8x

 

[dadeechi]

There is nothing surprising here. 126 deal was always part of the deal negotiations. The deal was divided into two parts as the 36 off the shelf deal is a government-to-government contract while 90 under MII is a contract between RAFALE and Indian Private player.

Apart from 126 RAFALEs, 200+ F-16s are also coming as part of the DTTI.

So it is not an either or situation.

 

[AugenBlick]

There is nothing surprising here. 126 deal was always part of the deal negotiations. The deal was divided into two parts as the 36 off the shelf deal is a government-to-government contract while 90 under MII is a contract between RAFALE and Indian Private player.

Apart from 126 RAFALEs, 200+ F-16s are also coming as part of the DTTI.

So it is not an either or situation.

NO. The F16 should not come. It's Rafale and Tejas. F16 will kill our Aero-Industry.
@Skillrex
This is what I was saying earlier. Khaana India ki plate me ... gungaan uncle USA ke.

 

[dadeechi]

NO. The F16 should not come. It's Rafale and Tejas. F16 will kill our Aero-Industry.
@Skillrex
This is what I was saying earlier. Khaana India ki plate me ... gungaan uncle USA ke.

The story of Tejas would be akin to Arjun's.

 

[nang2]

Then the next question is: is India well positioned to supply the demanded cash for those jets?

 

[dadeechi]

Then the next question is: is India well positioned to supply the demanded cash for those jets?

Yes

 

[DesiGuy1403]

The story of Tejas would be akin to Arjun's.

Do we need both F16 and Tejas though?

If F16 is not offering much more than Tejas, why go that route?
What would be the long term scope of this move?

 

[Hellfire]

Then the next question is: is India well positioned to supply the demanded cash for those jets?

Yes

 

[dadeechi]

Do we need both F16 and Tejas though?

If F16 is not offering much more than Tejas, why go that route?
What would be the long term scope of this move?

1) The issue is the lack of readiness of LCA MK2 until 2024 by which time all MIG-21s & MIG-27s would be decommissioned. Tejas MK1A would only replace 120. we need an alternative to fill the remaining gap.

2) 200+ F-16s under DTTI would bring engine assembly to India.

 

[Hellfire]

Do we need both F16 and Tejas though?

If F16 is not offering much more than Tejas, why go that route?
What would be the long term scope of this move?

We need a mix of high end and middle rung aircrafts. Otherwise cost of maintaining the fleet will be huge and unaffordable for governments who dole out freebies to uselessly reproducing unemployed population.

 

[DesiGuy1403]

200+ F-16s under DTTI would bring engine assembly to India.

Depends on which block of F16 they are willing to share with India though!

Would the engine assembly to India help us with our own indigenous Engine development in Kaveri?

 

[dadeechi]

Depends on which block of F16 they are willing to share with India though!

Would the engine assembly to India help us with our own indigenous Engine development in Kaveri?

For most part nothing substantial but India may learn about some western assembly tech which may help future generations of the engine development. This deal may not have happened had Safran been part of the RAFALE deal.

India obviously would get the latest tech on F-16s.

 

[Yaralava]

If the US can offer the F-16 are a real low cost and manufacture them completely in India then India might go for this deal.

Each aircraft might cost less than 50 million $ if made in India. Not to mention making India a service hub for all golbal F-16 which will continue for the next 20 years.

 

[wiseone2]

Then the next question is: is India well positioned to supply the demanded cash for those jets?

F-16s could be purchased at unit cost as low as $50 million. 200 F-16s could be $10 billion.

 

[Ind4Ever]

There is nothing surprising here. 126 deal was always part of the deal negotiations. The deal was divided into two parts as the 36 off the shelf deal is a government-to-government contract while 90 under MII is a contract between RAFALE and Indian Private player.

Apart from 126 RAFALEs, 200+ F-16s are also coming as part of the DTTI.

So it is not an either or situation.

Am optimistic about 126 I rather believe 36 +18 as follow on. High possibilities are there because the next lot could be considerably low. But don't celebrate just yet. Even that price could be punching above our belt. What what more promising is longterm expenses for Rafale when compared with sukois. IAF don't want more than 300 sukois for this one reason only. Let's see how it turns out to be. Long way to go.

On US offer for F18. High possibilities too.