Govt scraps single-engine fighters plan, asks IAF to go for wider competition

[ziaulislam]

Actually, F-35 unit price is expected to hit ~$80 million by 2020. 200 of these would cost ~$16 Billion. The main issue would be there would be zero ToT. Hence India is planning to continue partnering with Dassault on RAFALE to get ToT for AMCA.

u need to understand that outside buyers will have to pay additional money as per their investment in developmental cost right..? and you forgot about trianing and spares and weapons etc

e.g f-16 fly away cost was around 30 million in 2009 but we got it for 80 million which didnt included training(and recently Bahrain for over 110 million)

 

[shootingstar]

u need to understand that outside buyers will have to pay additional money as per their investment in developmental cost right..? and you forgot about trianing and spares and weapons etc

e.g f-16 fly away cost was around 30 million in 2009 but we got it for 80 million which didnt included training(and recently Bahrain for over 110 million)

There would be no ToT. So India would the FMS route. So the price would be same as USAF. Yes, I was only alluding to the fighter cost only. The whole deal would be north of $25 Billion at the least.

 

[monitor]

Govt scraps single-engine fighters plan, asks IAF to go for wider competition

Rajat Pandit| TNN | Updated: Feb 23, 2018, 00:06 IST

HIGHLIGHTS

• The govt has asked the IAF to come up with a new proposal that will take both single and twin-engine fighters into account
• The plan was to produce 114 single-engine fighters with foreign collaboration under the “Make in India” framework
• "The aim is to increase the contenders and avoid needless allegations later,” said a source

NEW DELHI: The government has scrapped its two-year-old plan to produce 114 single-engine fighters with foreign collaboration under the “Make in India” framework, at an estimated cost of Rs 1.15 lakh crore (almost $18 billion), amid the political slugfest between BJP and Congressover the Rs 59,000 crore contract for 36 French Rafale jets.

Top sources said the defence ministry (MoD) has directed IAF, down to just 31 fighter squadrons (each with 18 jets) now when at least 42 are required for the “collusive threat” from Pakistan and China, to come up with a new proposal that will take both single and twin-engine fighters into account.

“The original plan placed an unnecessary restriction on only single-engine fighters, which limited the competition to just two jets (American F-16 and Swedish Gripen-E). The aim is to increase the contenders and avoid needless allegations later,” said a source.

Incidentally, F-16 manufacturer Lockheed Martin had joined hands with Tata Advance Defence Systems Ltd, while Swedish aviation major SAAB tied-up with the Adani Group in anticipation of the mega project to produce the fighters in India under MoD’s ‘strategic partnership’ policy, as was earlier reported by TOI.

Faced with a further two-year delay now, which will ensure the beleaguered force will not be able to reach its sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons even by 2032 as projected earlier, the IAF is now scrambling to finalize the new plan based on its operational requirements, the required transfer of technology and other aspects.

It was the then defence minister Manohar Parrikar who had advised IAF to go in for the single-engine production line because he said the country could afford only 36 of the twin-engine Rafales for meeting its “critical operational necessity” immediately. Single-engine fighters, of course, have a lower acquisition and operating cost even if there is a slight compromise in capability

The 36 Rafales, ordered in “flyaway condition” by the NDA government after scrapping the original MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft)

Fighter competition saga begins nearly 10 years ago but not yet completed with so many twist and turn. It's becoming Hindi soap opera with this kind ever changing turn and twist .

 

[Tauren Paladin]

India took 46 years to develop a crappy fighter aircraft.... development began in 1969. Now, it needs 10 to 20 more years to be mature. It's so funny. It only took China 20 years to develop a 5th gen fighter aircraft and it's in mass production.

 

[GriffinsRule]

They are comparing what the F-35 would cost to US tax payers and imagining what is what they will pay as well. No F-35 is going to be under $150M for Indians ... who unlike other partner countries had no role in its development.

They paid almost $200M each of their Rafales while its flyaway costs is around $95M each. Besides, its yet to be seen if they will even be allowed to have the F-35 given how cozy their relationship is with Russia.

 

[faithfulguy]

They are comparing what the F-35 would cost to US tax payers and imagining what is what they will pay as well. No F-35 is going to be under $150M for Indians ... who unlike other partner countries had no role in its development.

They paid almost $200M each of their Rafales while its flyaway costs is around $95M each. Besides, its yet to be seen if they will even be allowed to have the F-35 given how cozy their relationship is with Russia.

Not only is Indian/Russian relationships a concern. But watch for India to ask for F-35 TOT.