Has India Bought A 4.5 Generation Rafale Fighter For The Price Of A Fifth Generation F-35?

[Zarvan]

Lockheed Martin F-35 and Dassault Rafale
- A +
India has bought 36 Rafale fighters for $8.8 billion costing an average of $240 million apiece with weapons, spares and support which is in comparison to the price of a fifth generation F-35 fighter aircraft.

The price of the 36 fighter jets without weapons and support is around 3.42 billion Euros works out to US $106 million apiece. 710 million Euros would be the cost of the armaments and Indian-specific changes, which include integration of Israeli helmet mounted displays, will come at a price of 1700 million Euros. The remaining cost includes the price of spare parts and maintenance.

These Rafale fighter jets will come equipped with the latest missiles such as the Meteor and Scalp. Beyond Visual Range Meteor air-to-air missiles have a range in excess of 150 KM.The Meteor missile’s integration on the Rafale jets implies that the IAF can hit targets inside both Pakistan and across the northern and eastern borders, while still staying within India’s own territorial boundary, PTI reported Wednesday.

A single Air Force F-35A costs about $148 million. The US Marine Corps F-35B costs about $251 million and F-35C for the Navy costs about $337 million. If we look at the average generic F-35, it costs about $178 million with associated weapons and communication system.

"We are down 57 percent from the first aircraft that was delivered, and we're on a path to be down to a price of about $85 million per unit complete with engines and full mission systems by 2019, which is comparable to a fourth generation aircraft," Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson told CNBC's during Farnborough Airshow in July this year.

By the time the Rafales start arriving in India, the F-35 would already be cheaper by 15%.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/17...rice_Of_A_Fifth_Generation_F_35_#.V-XNoCh96hc

 

[Skull and Bones]

Has F-35A been officially offered to India?

 

[cerilchan]

Us double head can not be trusted esp cia

 

[IndoUS]

People do realize that the Rafale package includes weapons, spares, training, and other infrastructural support and not just the cost of aircraft.

People are also not considering the changes to coms. system and other systems that need to be made for Indian version since we use Israeli system rather than the one used by France which has compatibility with the NATO devices and would most likely need to be changed. Not to mention our own system need to be added.

 

[first77]

$240 million apiece

 

[ConcealCarry]

Why are my fellow citizens focussed on the wrong things?
Money they pay is their issue, the weapons they acquire is our issue.
We need to focus and counter that is "our" issue

Lockheed Martin F-35 and Dassault Rafale
- A +
India has bought 36 Rafale fighters for $8.8 billion costing an average of $240 million apiece with weapons, spares and support which is in comparison to the price of a fifth generation F-35 fighter aircraft.

The price of the 36 fighter jets without weapons and support is around 3.42 billion Euros works out to US $106 million apiece. 710 million Euros would be the cost of the armaments and Indian-specific changes, which include integration of Israeli helmet mounted displays, will come at a price of 1700 million Euros. The remaining cost includes the price of spare parts and maintenance.

These Rafale fighter jets will come equipped with the latest missiles such as the Meteor and Scalp. Beyond Visual Range Meteor air-to-air missiles have a range in excess of 150 KM.The Meteor missile’s integration on the Rafale jets implies that the IAF can hit targets inside both Pakistan and across the northern and eastern borders, while still staying within India’s own territorial boundary, PTI reported Wednesday.

A single Air Force F-35A costs about $148 million. The US Marine Corps F-35B costs about $251 million and F-35C for the Navy costs about $337 million. If we look at the average generic F-35, it costs about $178 million with associated weapons and communication system.

"We are down 57 percent from the first aircraft that was delivered, and we're on a path to be down to a price of about $85 million per unit complete with engines and full mission systems by 2019, which is comparable to a fourth generation aircraft," Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson told CNBC's during Farnborough Airshow in July this year.

By the time the Rafales start arriving in India, the F-35 would already be cheaper by 15%.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/17...rice_Of_A_Fifth_Generation_F_35_#.V-XNoCh96hc

 

[Ankit Kumar 002]

This is what happens when a kid with diapers on becomes a defence analyst.

 

[nang2]

People do realize that the Rafale package includes weapons, spares, training, and other infrastructural support and not just the cost of aircraft.

People are also not considering the changes to coms. system and other systems that need to be made for Indian version since we use Israeli system rather than the one used by France which has compatibility with the NATO devices and would most likely need to be changed. Not to mention our own system need to be added.

I am curious. who buys fighter jets without buying weapon, spares, training and infrastructure support?

 

[first77]

This is what happens when a kid with diapers on becomes a defence analyst.

India should have bought S-400 missiles worth $10 billion

 

[kmc_chacko]

Lockheed Martin F-35 and Dassault Rafale
- A +
India has bought 36 Rafale fighters for $8.8 billion costing an average of $240 million apiece with weapons, spares and support which is in comparison to the price of a fifth generation F-35 fighter aircraft.

The price of the 36 fighter jets without weapons and support is around 3.42 billion Euros works out to US $106 million apiece. 710 million Euros would be the cost of the armaments and Indian-specific changes, which include integration of Israeli helmet mounted displays, will come at a price of 1700 million Euros. The remaining cost includes the price of spare parts and maintenance.

These Rafale fighter jets will come equipped with the latest missiles such as the Meteor and Scalp. Beyond Visual Range Meteor air-to-air missiles have a range in excess of 150 KM.The Meteor missile’s integration on the Rafale jets implies that the IAF can hit targets inside both Pakistan and across the northern and eastern borders, while still staying within India’s own territorial boundary, PTI reported Wednesday.

A single Air Force F-35A costs about $148 million. The US Marine Corps F-35B costs about $251 million and F-35C for the Navy costs about $337 million. If we look at the average generic F-35, it costs about $178 million with associated weapons and communication system.

"We are down 57 percent from the first aircraft that was delivered, and we're on a path to be down to a price of about $85 million per unit complete with engines and full mission systems by 2019, which is comparable to a fourth generation aircraft," Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson told CNBC's during Farnborough Airshow in July this year.

By the time the Rafales start arriving in India, the F-35 would already be cheaper by 15%.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/17...rice_Of_A_Fifth_Generation_F_35_#.V-XNoCh96hc

When India is part of a 5th Gen fighter project (PAKFA) then why should look at another 5th Gen fighter ?

LM is interested in manufacturing F-16s in India if order more than 200 and they have not offered F-35s as it is very early to expect it. I hope 2020-2025 might be the right time to discuss about it.

 

[IndoUS]

I am curious. who buys fighter jets without buying weapon, spares, training and infrastructure support?

If the country of Origin is buying the aircraft they don't need the added expense since the aircraft is tailored to their need. Just like how the article compares US F35 price which would be less since the country of origin is US. Now in case of India you have to add the cost of Infrastructure setup which is not currently available for the aircraft. Not to mention India needs to make sure that other weapons would be compatible with the system which are Russian made.

 

[first77]

Read How Russia’s S-400 missiles makes the F-35 obsolete

 

[nang2]

If the country of Origin is buying the aircraft they don't need the added expense since the aircraft is tailored to their need. Just like how the article compares US F35 price which would be less since the country of origin is US. Now in case of India you have to add the cost of Infrastructure setup which is not currently available for the aircraft. Not to mention India needs to make sure that other weapons would be compatible with the system which are Russian made.

sure. but comparing with the price paid by Japan for F35 would be more appropriate, for example, it's first 6 F35 cost $827 million.

 

[Jlaw]

$240 million apiece

is that a good price?

 

[IndoUS]

sure. but comparing with the price paid by Japan for F35 would be more appropriate, for example, it's first 6 F35 cost $827 million.

Yup, except F-35 is a partner project with a vast amount of countries mainly NATO, or have signed contracts with US which allows them to use American sub-systems (Which India declined to sign). Not to mention part manufacturing for the F-35 is split between different countries. Also F-35 is being manufactured by Mitsubishi in house if I am not wrong so the price would be lower compared to India where the first 36 are in fly away condition.

Forgot to mention partner countries have already invested in billions (each country) to this project.