At some point, the Rafale will be produced from raw material stage in India itself. Initially they’ll assemble the Rafale, but like in the case of the Su-30MKI, they’ll get to doing it nearly entirely by themselves at some stage.

Still, Switzerland was between 18 and 22, Qatar, Oman etc. are only looking for 12 to 24 aircraft, Brazil 36, only the UAE with 60 is quite substantial. So it’s not like 18 aircraft for India is such a low number considering. Plus no matter how many aircraft India build from scratch (which I doubt since they are still receiving kits even for the Su 30) Dassault will still be getting licence fee, and will probably send engineer to help.
So as far as I’m concerned people are just making noise for nothing. French people are very hard to please and while I’m not Sarkozy biggest fan, to think that he has enough clout to have India make the announcement just month before the election is quite optimistic (while I won’t deny it’s quite a good news for him).

Beside MMRCA or not the fact that big enterprise delocalize their jobs were it’s cheaper is not Dassault fault only. There isn’t a single smartphone that was built in Europe. The only thing European these days are the brands…:rolleyes:

Should they cancel only a new commercial bid might do for a new competition (rather than the whole process), in which case things would still be a mess…

These guys aren’t serious, really. They are like spoiled children. I almost don’t want them to buy Rafale (well that’s me been very very happy about India talking :D). Anyway I hope they will stop losing our time.

A much needed (and deserved) win for Dassault.

They must have finally changed the negotiating team after the UAE debacle.

The bids were submitted before, so that’s only confirming my suspicions about the UAE not been serious. No wonder Dassault almost got fed up, now they’re the one in a position of strength let’s see what happen 🙂

It will depend mostly on AWACs and ELINT/SIGNIT support, but I would say (of course) that Rafale would eat them for breakfast !

India is already training with the US and other major Western power, collaboration with France is bound to increase, so, one of the best airforce in the world training with THE best airforces in the world, in one of the best fighter in the world… Well you get the picture :dev2:

This was related to exports only. I see that I wasn’t clear enough on that.

Saab has thus far secured contracts for 90 Gripens:
South Africa: 28
Czech Republic : 14
Hungary : 14
Thailand : 12
Switzerland : 22 (contract not signed yet)

Eurofighter has secured orders for 87 aircraft:
Austria : 15
Saudi Arabia : 72

The thing is only Switzerland might command the NG variant, and I don’t know if the Gripens sold to the other can be upgraded.
Austria bought T1, and SA is in discussion for “possible” T3 variant. While any export is good, you need to export the latest variant to a country willing and able to keep buying your upgrade. That’s why the India’s contract was so important for anyone involved.
Gripen sold until now is more or less the same generation as F 16 and m2k, I doubt Austria will upgrade its Typhoon, and even Italy, Spain and Germany arn’t too crazy about it. Oman might be T3 but T2 was the variant offered IIRC.
So now Saab need Brazil to have a real chance to produce the NG, Typhoon need SA to upgrade/buy T3 and for the consortium to not get cold feet. (Of course Dassault need not the screw up that one…) So I guess the next few months are going to get pretty tense…

@ Mildave,

I think it depends on the reality of indian offer for 80 additional aircraft…

if true, chances are EADS keeps quiet as you don’t want to upset the guys that may give you almost the same market as well, especialy considering that, as Typhoon finished “second” it may appear as the natural choice for the complement (if it has to be something else than the rafale).

Now, is that announcement real? Is there a real intent to buy additional 80 fighters? Is it just a way to make everybody play nice until the whole thing is definitely signed? Wait and see… 😀

There is already a clause saying that India can buy up to 200 aircraft at the same price than the 126, so I don’t see the news about 80+ aircraft as “news”.
Why would they have another competition ? Can the Gripen grow another engine or the F18 be less “fat” ? Anyhow they might try to keep the pressure on Dassault or they might have another tender who knows but I doubt they are going to buy another plane ! Su 30 + Rafale + LCA + M2k + Jaguar + PakFa + AMCA…. Hum…

+ The cost of building the Rafale in India might not be as cheap as thought. First most of the part are coming from France and Europe. Then engineers in India working on defence project might be paid less but not that less… Learning the skills necessary, delays etc.

Now remember the contract hasn’t been signed yet, negociation on price is just starting. Keeping Dassault on its toes is a good way to make sure they further reduce the price.

Concerning Typhoon the mother of all deal is now SA with $30b for F15s, so I guess they miss that. They are said to have gone beyond themselves in India to reduce cost and it was still 4 to 5 million more expansive by aircraft. So honestly I don’t see how that could be good. Maybe they’ll have to make a bargain : buy one get one free :diablo: