Why is it that the Rafale seems to be the only aircraft with a nose problem (maybe a cold?) while F16, Gripen, Tejas, M2k etc. seem to be doing just fine?

Is it just me or the nose cone of Rafale (550 mm) makes the nose cones of Golden Eagle (590 mm), Gripen (600 mm), Tejas (650 mm) and f-16 (740×480 mm) look grossly oversized ?

If there is still no decision in two weeks, we must assume that both offers are unworkable for India in terms of costs. Any thoughts?

If I were to risk a guess, the offers are too close to decisively declare a winner, with both the difference between offers coming within the vicinity of the error probability of the cost computation system being used and negotiations are being used to discount the prices till a decisive margin between bids is obtained.

On October 8th, ACM states that the bids should be opened in 2-3 weeks and the computations should last another couple weeks.

Offers opened around 3rd -5th November, 5 weeks for completion of exercise.

Mid December, no news, further 3 weeks warranted around Christmas.

Mid Jan, two more weeks asked for which is coming to an end around now.

^^ Sounds like a done deal 🙂

Typhoon: 5 heavy wet points, integration of 2500 litre tanks before CFT, ASMP.
Rafale: Bigger nose, 110 KN M-88, ASRAAM.

^Excellent post John :).

Agni-V launch soon: DRDO

Good news about Prahaar there…from the earlier newsreports it seemed that the amy was totally glossing over it…

Prahaar seems to be falling in a no man’s land. It does something which long ranged tube artillery does but seems a little too expensive for its role.

When will we hear what Rita sounds like, I so want to plagiarise Siri jokes 😀

Its because of ground clearance issues.

Ground clearance issues ? Shouldn’t that have prompted the designers to use a more “flatter” tank like Gripen ?

Or is ground clearance an issue only for “bring-back” ?