Indian source.
Russian source.
I merely explained why I think production will end by 2022 or at max 2023.
Rafale is far better at interception than LCA is. Rafale is also capable of supercruise at mach 1.4 with 6 missiles.
Even with upgraded MKI, Rafale is cheaper because most of the development has already been done while we have to pay for MKI's further development.
Don't worry about such silly news pieces. We don't know how the payment terms are in the contract. We don't know anything about the contract, so all the characters speculating stuff that nobody knows is simply stupid.
Su-30 is more expensive to fly than Rafale. Rafale has a range of 3800 Km+ with 9.6 tonnes of fuel MKI has a range of 3000 Km with 9.6 tonnes of fuel. So there is fuel saved. And other aspects of MKI is also more expensive in terms of maintenance. MKI's airframe needs more maintenance because it has a life of only 4000 hours while Rafale has 8000 hours. Then, AL-31 has engine life of just 2000 hours versus 7000-8000 hours on M88-2. We just placed an order for another 970 engines for MKI because of its low service life. That won't be necessary with Rafale.
Technically, MKI is the best option if it were cheaper, but it is not. We can actually afford a 300 MKI fleet with a 200 Rafale fleet instead of a 500 MKI fleet. It's expensive because MKI is from the same era as LCA is. It was different if MKI was actually the Su-35 with better maintenance and service life. With Rafale, we get a new jet, we get new technologies, new production techniques, a new strategic partner, new weapons, a more focused development partner with a long lasting relationship and all this with the lifecycle costs being cheaper than MKI.
MKI is better than Rafale in some parameters like larger radar which gives it better air to air capability. So, it is more useful as an air dominance platform. If we end up using the 270 MKI for other duties, then LCA will be expected to fight Chinese Flankers. That would put IAF at a severe disadvantage. Instead if we can use most of the MKIs for OCA (Offensive Counter Air), then the Rafales can perform other duties without having to bother the MKI fleet (like how 4 Rafales can carry a large package and also escort themselves). If we use LCA, then the MKI must perform all of its own duties, all of what should have been Rafale's duties and also protect the LCA at the same time, thereby rendering LCA useless.
Example:
Replace the Flankers with Rafale and Gripen with LCA. This gives you an idea about LCA versus MCA or HCA. This is a major reason why nobody wants an LCA. IAF is just stuck with one because it is our own development. If LCA wasn't our aircraft, IAF wouldn't even have looked at it.
It is misconception that Defence prefers foreign weapons and weapons platform.
I go to the market to buy olive oil for cooking a Mediterranean meal and they give me mustard oil oil and you want me to take mustard oil since that is available.
The cost and money factor is beyond a certain capability. There are capabilities Rafale offers that LCA cannot offer. But the capabilities Rafale offers are very similar to what MKI already offers.
Now that is your believe and we can yet not say thats a fact...
Which aspect. Your posts are vague without referring to the actual point I made.
Rafale will come with all the ToT required to manufacture the jet in India indigenously. OTOH, we don't need all of the source codes.
It isn't. Only early procurement costs are high, and capabilitywise dirt cheap compared to LCA. It is all about having certain capability at a cost or lose capability for no reason.
It is cheaper to have Sukhoi+Rafale+Tejas. The ratio is 3:2:1 currently. There is a possibility of 3:2:2 but it is extremely unlikely because IAF will have to force MoD to increase squadron strength. It is possible to have a very large number of FGFA/AMCA/LCA if squadron strength is increased to 50 or even 60. But IAF may prioritize Rafale/FGFA over LCA, especially by then the first two LCA squadrons could have moved into OCU units. IAF had sent a request to increase the sanctioned strength from 39.5 to 45 in 2011 and, as already posted, MoD agreed only to 42 squadrons. I guess the increase in IN's standard squadron strength affected IAF's strength.
ToT should take at least 5 or 6 years. That's how long they will take to learn. It won't be transferred overnight. Did you finish your degree in one day or did you take 3 or 4 years? Now imagine if I give you 50,000 to 100,000 pages in technical documentation.
It doesn't matter as long as the engine is imported. It is not sanction-proof. In case of Rafale and MKI, engines are made in India. In case of Rafale, most of it will be made in India. Nearly 100%. I have a feeling we will have to buy ejection seats from the British. Regardless, the principle driver behind the MRCA deal is in getting a sanction-proof aircraft.
You didn't get the point he made.
Strawman arguments. We are not in that condition. We can buy the BMW and then we can buy the whole company after that, we have that much money right now. So we are going to use all of that.
