India could buy up to 189 French Rafale fighter jets: sources

[Markus]

India could buy up to 189 French Rafale fighter jets: sources​

Paris: India could buy up to 189 of the Rafale fighter jets currently being used by France to bomb Islamist militants in Mali, sources close to negotiations on the multi-billion dollar deal have told AFP.

The possibility of an additional 63 jets being added to an expected order for 126 was raised by India when Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid visited Paris last week, they said.

"There is an option for procurement of an additional 63 aircrafts subsequently for which a separate contract would need to be signed," a source said.

Presently the contract under negotiation is for 126 aircraft but we are talking about the follow-up."

The Indian press has estimated the value of the deal for 126 Rafales at $12 billion (nine billion euros).

A 50 per cent increase in the number of planes ordered would take it to around $18 billion, in a huge boost for the French defence industry.

India selected French manufacturer Dassault Aviation as its preferred candidate to equip its air force with new fighter jets in January 2012.

Under the deal on the table, the first 18 Rafales would be built in France but the next 108 would be assembled in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

"The first aircraft will be delivered three years after signature of the contract," the source added.

India could buy up to 189 French Rafale fighter jets: sources | NDTV.com

So, India will buy the additional Rafales too over and above 126

 

[janon]

Nothing new in this report, but I'm posting it to dispel the recent speculations that the Rafale deal has run into trouble (and all the trolling related to that from our Chinese friends). On the contrary, the deal is still on, and a follow on order is also going to be negotiated.

India could buy up to 189 French Rafale fighter jets: sources | NDTV.com

Paris: India could buy up to 189 of the Rafale fighter jets currently being used by France to bomb Islamist militants in Mali, sources close to negotiations on the multi-billion dollar deal have told AFP.

The possibility of an additional 63 jets being added to an expected order for 126 was raised by India when Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid visited Paris last week, they said.

"There is an option for procurement of an additional 63 aircrafts subsequently for which a separate contract would need to be signed," a source said.

"Presently the contract under negotiation is for 126 aircraft but we are talking about the follow-up."

The Indian press has estimated the value of the deal for 126 Rafales at $12 billion (nine billion euros).

A 50 per cent increase in the number of planes ordered would take it to around $18 billion, in a huge boost for the French defence industry.

India selected French manufacturer Dassault Aviation as its preferred candidate to equip its air force with new fighter jets in January 2012.

Under the deal on the table, the first 18 Rafales would be built in France but the next 108 would be assembled in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

"The first aircraft will be delivered three years after signature of the contract," the source added.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Nothing new. And addtional 63 as a follow-on was part of the original RFP.



And certain idiots were saying India woulnd't even get 126, now the talk is of wanting 189!!


Must feel like:

 

[Markus]

So, now its confirmed we are getting 189

 

[ANPP]

Thats good to increase number if we have so much money.

 

[Yeti]

It was expected the follow on order to purchase more the same thing we will do with P8, Apache etc the option is there if we so wish to take it.

 

[arp2041]

Nothing of a surprise really, Indian armed forces always go for the follow-on orders in every deal, so adding 63 to 126 was not a big deal for IAF, but i would like to know the final nos. of rafale that IAF could end up getting, i strongly feel it will be in the range of 220+.

BTW if French play this right, they have really hit a JACKPOT.

 

[sudhir007]

@ Abingdonboy
did you think is good for IAF to go addition 63 rafale coze HAL did not complete the 108 a/c before 2022 and at that time FGFA is in production, did you think it is better to buy 5gen(FGFA) then 4.5(Rafale)

 

[OrionHunter]

Thats good to increase number if we have so much money.

But Jairam Ramesh must be pulling his hair out considering that he wanted the money to buy toilets instead!!

 

[Abingdonboy]

Nothing of a surprise really, Indian armed forces always go for the follow-on orders in every deal, so adding 63 to 126 was not a big deal for IAF, but i would like to know the final nos. of rafale that IAF could end up getting, i strongly feel it will be in the range of 220+.

BTW if French play this right, they have really hit a JACKPOT.

What seems to have been forgotton is the SFC's requirement for its own fleet of 40 fighter bombers, I wonder if this requirment will be filled by the Rafale in lare follow-on orders?

@ Abingdonboy
did you think is good for IAF to go addition 63 rafale coze HAL did not complete the 108 a/c before 2022 and at that time FGFA is in production, did you think it is better to buy 5gen(FGFA) then 4.5(Rafale)

It is a good point you make but, yes, I do think it is a good idea to go for an additional 63 (2-3 SQDs worth) as the IAF is faced with a serious SQD scarcity with 2017 being the year when most MIG-21s and MIG-27s are retired not to mention 1-2 Jaguar SQDs will also be retired. And yes there is a serious need for HAL to ensure they meet deadlines with the Rafale production. I would hope, in an ideal world, that the additional 63 were built simultaneously by Dassualt in France so the IAF got 2 times as many Rafales delivered per year. It is going to be a HUGE challenge for HAL to absorb all the tech and then build the Rafales from scratch and any possible delays need to be addressed before they occur, having offsite production in France by workers that have been chruning out these beasts for many years would be a nice safety net for the IAF IMHO.

 

[Yeti]

@Abingdonboy I was thinking the same thing that could this extra order of Rafales be for the nuclear triad ?



Last month on June 19, the French Air Force demonstrated a nuclear deterrent capability by test-firing the MBDA ASMP-A stand off nuclear capable cruise missile. The mission lasted five hours and involved pilots from the 113 Air Base conducting a mid-air refueling, a high-altitude cruise phase, and a dived low-altitude phase to enter enemy territory.

 

[sancho]

It is a good point you make but, yes, I do think it is a good idea to go for an additional 63 (2-3 SQDs worth) as the IAF is faced with a serious SQD scarcity with 2017 being the year when most MIG-21s and MIG-27s are retired not to mention 1-2 Jaguar SQDs will also be retired. And yes there is a serious need for HAL to ensure they meet deadlines with the Rafale production. I would hope, in an ideal world, that the additional 63 were built simultaneously by Dassualt in France so the IAF got 2 times as many Rafales delivered per year. It is going to be a HUGE challenge for HAL to absorb all the tech and then build the Rafales from scratch and any possible delays need to be addressed before they occur, having offsite production in France by workers that have been chruning out these beasts for many years would be a nice safety net for the IAF IMHO.

Actually the increase makes ONLY sense, if we order them directly from France now and not only 18, or as a follow order at the end. That would give us the chance to induct Rafale faster, replace Mig 21s earlier, get a tactical advantage against opponents and give HAL more time to set up the licence production of the rest in India later.
A follow on order doesn't make sense, because they would be produced in a time, when LCA MK2 and FGFA are expected to be in production as well. The one is the more cost-effective solution, with similar generation of techs, the other is a more capable NG fighter, so depending on what is needed, one one of them would be the better choice by then.

 

[OrionHunter]

@ Abingdonboy
did you think is good for IAF to go addition 63 rafale coze HAL did not complete the 108 a/c before 2022 and at that time FGFA is in production, did you think it is better to buy 5gen(FGFA) then 4.5(Rafale)

Its the roles of these fighters:

Rafale is a Multi-Role Combat Aircraft, capable of tactical strike, air reconnaissance, air defence, and maritime roles.

The FGFA represents the acme of advanced technology-centric combat air power for air dominance and effects-based precision force application in battle spaces over the decades ahead.

Along with 126 (Or 189) Dassault Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft, 270 Sukhoi-30MKIs and 220 indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, the FGFA will be the mainstay of India's air combat fleet for the foreseeable future. This, in addition to the remaining 50 odd Mirage 2000 fighters, 61 MIG-29 SMT, and the 125 MIG-21 Bison (operational till 2017), will help the IAF to reach the sanctioned strength of 44 squadrons.

Cheers!

 

[Yeti]

The air version of Nirbhay Cruise Missile with the Rafale just like we have with the new order of the 40 Sukhoi Mki's which will be able to carry Brahmos.

 

[acetophenol]

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