Rafale Exports May Spell Production Headache for Dassault

[Odysseus]

Even as Dassault basks in recent sales success of the Rafale, it might be hard pressed to scale up production to meet the 84 export orders besides its existing commitment to the French Armed Forces.

Dassault has successfully sold 84 Rafale fighter jets this year to Egypt, India and Qatar. Its success was very much on display at the Paris Air show 2015 where it welcomed its new plus potential international customers.

Delegations from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Malaysia, Finland, Kuwait and Belgium showed interest in the aircraft at the show. However, with present production capacity pegged at eleven fighter jets a year, taking up more orders can only make it difficult to fulfill existing commitments.

With 48 firm export orders from Egypt and Qatar plus the 36 expected Indian order to be delivered by 2021, Dassault will have to ensure a production rate of three aircrafts a month, a three –fold expansion of its existing Rafale production capacity. Even if Dassault manages to do so, will the 500 aerospace suppliers that participate in the fighter program known as the Groupe Inter Entreprises (Inter-Companies Group) be able to cope up with the speeded-up production?

Urgent delivery requests, reliability of many OEM suppliers and the French Air Force’s operational needs are the major hurdles for Dassault to increase the production of fighter jets and deliver them on time.

Egypt has demanded speedy delivery of six aircraft by this summer. Dassault has decided to take these aircraft from the ones meant for the French Air Force.

Rafale Exports May Spell Production Headache for Dassault

 

[Donatello]

So if Egypt takes the French Airforce stocks, then how can India get its order of 36 jets within two years as India has been propagating?
Well, India better sign the deal and transfer the funds as quickly as possible.

 

[surya kiran]

So if Egypt takes the French Airforce stocks, then how can India get its order of 36 jets within two years as India has been propagating?
Well, India better sign the deal and transfer the funds as quickly as possible.

That could well be a reason sited to back out of the deal.

 

[Donatello]

That could well be a reason sited to back out of the deal.

That would leave many Indian fanboys heart broken.

 

[surya kiran]

That would leave many Indian fanboys heart broken.

I will not be too negative, till the 7th of July. That's when the details of the FGFA deal will be clarified. If they speed up delivery of the FGFA and increase the LCA Mark 2, it should be more than make up.

 

[GURU DUTT]

I will not be too negative, till the 7th of July. That's when the details of the FGFA deal will be clarified. If they speed up delivery of the FGFA and increase the LCA Mark 2, it should be more than make up.

and the later part is what new DM wants + speeding up R&D for AMCA & AURA

 

[Donatello]

I will not be too negative, till the 7th of July. That's when the details of the FGFA deal will be clarified. If they speed up delivery of the FGFA and increase the LCA Mark 2, it should be more than make up.

FGFA? it is based on T-50 that itself is delayed. Indians have ZERO input in the Russian 5th gen program. They are silently watching after paying huge amounts. FGFA is not coming any time soon.
But you can foolishly believe what you want.

 

[cerberus]

So if Egypt takes the French Airforce stocks, then how can India get its order of 36 jets within two years as India has been propagating?
Well, India better sign the deal and transfer the funds as quickly as possible.

Because it was GTG deal the India will get rafale manufactured for French airforce which was already has assembly lines in France

 

[Donatello]

Because it was GTG deal the India will get rafale manufactured for French airforce which was already has assembly lines in France

They don't have separate assembly lines. It is just that the only orders so far has been for French Airforce, so there is a limit to what Dassault can produce. With the export orders and Egypt trying to push its way in, i am wondering if Dassault sets up or opens up a bigger assembly line.....the question is....how soon?
India has still not signed the deal and after that India needs to make a payment for starting the work. only after that will Dassault be able to make anything.

 

[surya kiran]

FGFA? it is based on T-50 that itself is delayed. Indians have ZERO input in the Russian 5th gen program. They are silently watching after paying huge amounts. FGFA is not coming any time soon.
But you can foolishly believe what you want.

Before commenting, it is better to learn.

There are 2 versions. A two seater version (FGFA) and a single seat version(Pak-Fa). We are going in for the single seat variant to start with. Post this, MKIsation will be carried out for the 2 seater version.

For the second part of paying huge amounts? What amount? The 295 MN USD? Can you prove any amount besides this being paid?No amount till date has been paid, as far as I am aware. If you are, please provide link.

As for the delays, its a 5th generation plane. FYI, what was the estimated production rate? 55 by 2020. Production starts in 2016. This has been reduced to 12 by RuAF. Not due to production constraints, but, economic. Read the date of this article.


Guess who can keep the production line chugging? The IAF. As for the Rafale, its as good as dead.

Russian Air Force to buy fewer PAK FA fighter aircraft | Russia & India Report

 

[sathya]

Rafale + pak fa

Rafale will get inducted for first 3 years after which pak fa will enter...

India will be in a dominating position for a short limited war..