Except that they have NO insurance for further contracts (eache tranche coming with its own tenders).
A review of what Dassault offered (and there are other goodies) for example :

http://www.45enord.ca/2014/06/rafale-la-proposition-que-le-canada-ne-peut-refuser/

First release of Stormshadow on italian Typhoon

http://www.eurofighter.com/news-and-events/2014/12/first-storm-shadow-missile-release-from-a-eurofighter-typhoon-is-a-success

As a sniper pod will beinternally integrated, i do not see where is the issue. (Notice for once i talk in favour of F-35).
Question about EOTS btw, doese it have moving ground targets detection capability?

^ and ^^ Thank you for clearing up things. So it was not F4 but F3O-4T.

Lets see if it is F3O-4T or F3-R standard. As I read, if India gets F3-R then it will be mostly western weapons package otherwise local. As F3-R is more about integrating more weapons with better feedback management.

These question were related to Indian deal …

F3 is the “base” software standard. Atm F3.3′, very soon F3.4 than F3-R

O is for obsolescence treatment

4T is 4th production tranche.

F3R iq not only about integrating Talios pod and Meteor. New radar modes, new spectra hardware and capabilities, ACOGS etc.

According to a B301 (testbed Rafale), most (if not all, couldn’t get details) of F3R is flying.
So i think Kovy is right India will have its own standard based on F3-R.
A key point is that Dassault wish to keep the standards close enough so as to make common evolutions (for F4 for example).

My understanding is that India will be getting “Rafale Tranche 4”, can anyone confirm it?

Does anyone guess the number breakdown of Rafale B and C?

Any suggestions/guess for the the weapons and equipment package?

Nope, F3-R. But F4 will be mainly a software evolution. (and plug and play hardware)

I’m betting the contract has HAL as the prime contractor rather than Reliance. As for liability, lets wait and see.

Absolutely. Relaince is only to have a second supply chain. HAL as main contractor WAS in RFP 🙂

How do you know there’s one single all-encompassing liability clause (as opposed of multiple ones dealing with different aspects of it incl. areas out of Dassault’s control) ?

And everyone would have bid for contract regardless. Insuring HAL assembled product isn’t the bankruptcy threatening super-calamity that you’re making it out to be. Certainly not compared to what an oil company would deliver.

i was told so by a Dassault vice president. Enough for me. Btw contract is more or less wrapped and 15000 pages long.

No pun intended, just pasting an article about costs.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/feature/5/159334/the-myth-of-declining-f_35-prices.html