That’s why i added a comment spud 😉

Trouble is the (intelligent in my mind) dual request is little by little being split in two parts.

Last but not least, an internally mounted sensor will be shielded from external perturbations far more efficiently than a podded one. That plays a big part in signal acquisition.
Also, if I do remember right, Qatar ordered US manufactured pods for their Rafale..

Fairly logical, they are already using same family (simbology etc.)

Vomad PESA AESA antennas are LRUs exactly as EOTS is. 2 hours is neded to swap antennas. It is complete misconeption to think tyat “old Rafale” have PESA while “new” have AESA. The backend was always itended to receive AESA antennas.

(Bloomberg) — Durability testing data indicates service-life of initial F-35B short-takeoff-vertical landing jets bought by Marine Corps “is well under” expected service life of 8,000 fleet hours; “may be as low as 2,100″ hours

https://about.bgov.com/blog/stagnant-f-35-reliability-means-fewer-available-jets-pentagon/

May be exagerated.

EOTS-Upgrades is an evolutionary step to provide better capability to the F-35 user community. Most importantly, it is an LRU and not a podded solution meaning that they get enhanced targeting capability without having to mount a heavier, more capable system on a pod which increases both RCS and drag.

The advantage of a pod is you can easily change it, set it (or not) for a mission. The F-35 isnt really FOC and its sniper XR based EOTS is already obsolete, whatever arguments on ecan use to try to say the opposite.That is the disadvantage of inner mounted stuff (agree it has advantages for stealth etc.)

Finally you have apparently no idea of SCAF advances, neither of SNECMA work on engines. Definition phase is done, Demonstrator is contracted and scheduled for 2025. For the sake of your knowledgeKAveri is a variable cycle engine and it is indian…

Btw, i see a small company has been contracted to put infrasonic detectors in program Rafale. Anyidea what they could be used for?

It is not less expensive when you compare apple to apple (US flyaway cost vs French flyaway cost).

First of all, we do not know if F-35 will have an ADVENT engine (SCAF will btw). Adv EOTS is just a step to keep up with advanced sniper. Present EOTS is slightly outdated and there is of laser pointing isn’t there?

CUDA is officially launched? (genuine question)

Don’t forget the cost of developing upgrades for your jet. Compare the cost to develop new ESM functions, a new IRST, AESA radar, etc when it’s spread across 3000+ jets vs a few hundred.

All those are developed for all contenders. Except for new F-35 IRST to replace the obsolete one (teasing but true)