Rafale, Typhoon shortlisted for IAF purchase

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110428/bs_afp/indiaaerospacedefenceeurofighterdassault

India shortlists Rafale, Eurofighter for jet deal

Pratap Chakravarthy, 2011/04/28 07:29 ET

Eurofighter Typhoon taking off from Italian airbase

NEW DELHI (AFP) – India has shortlisted Dassault's Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon for a $12 billion dollar fighter jet deal, cutting out US bidders from one of the largest military contracts of recent years.

The US embassy in New Delhi confirmed Thursday that Lockheed Martin's F-16 and Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet had both been ruled out of the running for India's planned purchase of 126 multi-role combat aircraft.

Ambassador Timothy Roemer, who announced separately Thursday that he was resigning his post for personal reasons, said the US government was "deeply disappointed" by the decision.

The long-delayed fighter jet deal has seen fierce competition between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, Sweden's Saab AB, France's Dassault Aviation, a European consortium with its Eurofighter Typhoon and the Russian makers of the MiG 35.

It was also the object of intense lobbying during visits to India last year by US President Barack Obama, French President Nicholas Sarkozy and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

"It is confirmed Eurofighter and Rafale have been selected and the remaining four are off," a senior Indian defence ministry official told AFP.

"The grounds for their rejection have been individually conveyed," said the official, who declined to be identified.

He added that the government hoped to sign the final fighter deal by March 2012.

Saab AB confirmed on Wednesday that it had been notified its JAS-39 Gripen fighter was no longer in contention.

The Eurofighter is made by the four-nation European Aeronautic Defence & Space consortium, representing Germany and Spain, Britain's BAE Systems and Italy's Finmeccanica.

The contract includes the outright purchase of 18 combat aircraft by 2012 with another 108 to be built in India.

India, the biggest importer of military hardware among emerging nations, issued the request for proposals to the six firms in 2007 and trials of the aircraft competing for the deal began a year later.

In his statement, Ambassador Roemer noted that he had been "personally assured" at the highest levels of the Indian government that the procurement process for the multi-role fighter "has been and will be transparent and fair".

And then resigned about 6 hours before this AFP article hit.

The procurement of the fighter jets is a key part of India's military modernisation programme, aimed at securing its borders against its traditional and emerging rivals Pakistan and China.

International consultancy firm KPMG estimates New Delhi will hand out military contracts worth $112 billion by 2016.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

We charge more than five times what Russia does to build a fighter jet. Ours may be more advanced, but we have pretty much priced ourselves out of the market these days with the world economy being in shambles. We have nobody to blame but ourselves...well the military contractors.

[Vi-Jay 218]

A French fighter jet?

I am sure it's equipped with "passive resistance" and "non-violent civil disobedience" as standard features.

Krishna would be proud!!

I guess all the Walton, Gates and Buffett investments ain't cuttin' it!

Edited April 28, 2011 by Vi-Jay

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I've heard alot of good things about the Rafale. I think it even has a slightly higher rating then the Eurofighter.

At the end of the day, the F16 is getting older and the F18 has detractors even in the US.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I've heard alot of good things about the Rafale. I think it even has a slightly higher rating then the Eurofighter.

At the end of the day, the F16 is getting older and the F18 has detractors even in the US.

(my version of) the rationale behind the shortlist:

1. Rafale -- India has 51 Mirage-2000 H's, so its mechanics have some familiarity with Dassault products--ergo, Rafale would have "short learning curve"
2. Eurofighter is 21% owned by Italian company Alenia Aeronautica--which pleases India's "Queen" Sonia Gandhi

My bet is that the Typhoon will be the final choice.

[Pooky 3,355]

Of the two, the Typhoon is the more capable aircraft, but it is the more expensive option and is pretty close to the Su-30MKI's that the IAF already operates.

The Rafale, apart from being the cheaper, slightly less capable option, has one big advantage. Dassault already make a carrier-capable version of the Rafale and the Indian navy is busy trying to make an ex-Russian aircraft carrier operational. The Indian government might be persuaded to go for the Rafale to increase commonality between the Navy and Air Force assets.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Of the two, the Typhoon is the more capable aircraft, but it is the more expensive option and is pretty close to the Su-30MKI's that the IAF already operates.

The Rafale, apart from being the cheaper, slightly less capable option, has one big advantage. Dassault already make a carrier-capable version of the Rafale and the Indian navy is busy trying to make an ex-Russian aircraft carrier operational. The Indian government might be persuaded to go for the Rafale to increase commonality between the Navy and Air Force assets.

Unfortunately, military and PMO are oft way out of tune--as shown in mid-1980's when India was considering purchase of 155-mm howitzers. Army people actually wanted SOFMA (French) model, but decision was awarded to Bofors (Swedish), and the contract was paid in....Deutschmarks (rather than Kronor) which triggered a huge scandal.

[Pooky 3,355]

Unfortunately, military and PMO are oft way out of tune--as shown in mid-1980's when India was considering purchase of 155-mm howitzers. Army people actually wanted SOFMA (French) model, but decision was awarded to Bofors (Swedish), and the contract was paid in....Deutschmarks (rather than Kronor) which triggered a huge scandal.

As I understand it, there is another significant advantage the Typhoon has over the Rafale. The Eurofighter consortium will entertain local assembly in India, whereas Dassault won't. Economics is something governments claim to understand.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

As I understand it, there is another significant advantage the Typhoon has over the Rafale. The Eurofighter consortium will entertain local assembly in India, whereas Dassault won't. Economics is something governments claim to understand.

the key word. (Dassault was willing to entertain local-assembly in 1980's--the original order for Mirage-2000 was for 150--but may have demanded too high a licence-fee). Edited May 4, 2011 by Saddle Bronc

[Saddle Bronc 124]

BAE Announces Typhoon ahead of Rafale for deal

[Saddle Bronc 124]

IAF hopes to finalise deal by year-end, opens bid(but "Queen" Sonia's diktat will probably mean Typhoon) Edited September 22, 2011 by Saddle Bronc