So integrate non-French weapons, and take other upgrade paths (e.g. Selex/Saab swash-plate radar) if the Thales option doesn´t offer cost/performance per India´s needs. That´s the point of having source codes and full tech transfer. Obviously, Thales will have rather good chances on selling it`s own upgrade path, at least in it`s majority, but there isn`t a 100% corellation and India will have free choice there.
And sure… Eurofighter upgrade costs will be SOOO cheap compared to Rafale.
Well the shenanigans of Dassault (or is it the French Govt?) in upgrading the M2Ks will certainly be taken into account before any deal for Rafale is considered.Plus French weapons by all accounts are quite expensive.Although in case of meteor that wouldnt happen I guess.But for all others like scalp or aasm that could be a problem.Interestingly enough IAF managed to make the IAF M2Ks compatible with the R 27 , it is not known whether it is for economic reasons or due to unsatisfactory performance of the super 530Ds , and most probably that happened with minimal/no input from the oem.
So to mitigate the risk , IAF “should” ask for ability to integrate weapons of IAF’s choice ..maybe like crystal maze , sudarshan LGBs or astra missile with FULL oem support.
Ofcourse signing any agreements will take into account guarantees from the manufacturer either for incremental addition of new capabilities and/or pathway for future upgrades with financial and other penalties attached to non-deliverence.No one can rule out all the risks though in selecting a bird with “to be added” capability versus existing capability.
These are again the main points in favour of rafale including existing aesa capability which was reportedly demoed to the IAF and the ability to fire the scalp.
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