This is a really funny article from you, Keep it up
India at present is NOT DISCUSSING ANYTHING YET, The only discussion on is for PAKFA/FGFA.
We dont even have a single Rafale in Indian colours except the mode.3l so on what basis are they going to order the next lot?
Indian Navy has sent RFI for carrier based planes, but they want is a plane which is flying (not a paper plane) and operational and should be with folded wings, which unfortunately Rafale M does not have and MiG-29K and F/A-18 Hornet have. Now when Rafale M would be developed with folding wings thats another matter, surely not going to happen in weeks. Further, why would India pay for folding wings? Its not like we are waiting for Rafale, Thus the common sense would be, If there is Rafale M with folding wings flying and operational then the Indian navy would be interested. But if it does not have folding wings, then seems difficult. as space on aircraft carrier is premium !!
Rafale can be deployed only on Pakistani border, Against Chinese Su-35 I doubt that IAF would field them against the Su-30 MKK Su-35 and its derivatives, Simply because Su-35 is much better than Rafale in terms of WVR combat .. Su-30 MKI did beat both Rafale and Eurofighter in two separate exercises.
Now the number what you say 200 planes is fantastic,, do let me know who pays for these planes? What is the point in going for a 4th Gen has been when 5th Gen plane is available? Does not make sense at all. Further we have our own Brahmos which can do much better than SCALP Saves us a lot of money. Would your point be that We should buy Rafale because it can fire SCALP and Brahmos is way better and economical to buy and use? Really stupid logic.
Few more things, Rafale can be heavily loaded, but Rafale has to land with max 6.5 tons load,
Reliance has a contract with Dassault for producing parts for it, and maybe assemble planes in future, Does not mean we should give an order to Reliance just because they have a factory !! Stupid logic.
F4 version at best is 4.5++ gen plane, it wont be 5th Gen plane. By the way have you noticed that Dassault tries to use all BS terms trying to sell their wares? Omni role etc, Most planes now are Omni role, and based on how they are armed, As per the intelligence reports. Let us say Rafale is on strike mission armed with say SCALP, Drop tanks and Meteor missiles. and it sees an Enemy patrol boat and then an enemy tank, do tell me by your knowledge what weapon is this Rafale going to fire at it? Surely not MICA or Meteor. SCALP???
So most MRCA planes as the abbreviation is are Multi role, and its not that they are just limited to A2G or A2Sh or A2A weapons, How they are armed is based on pre mission intelligence. Thus a plane that is armed for A2G mission will not be armed with Anti shipping missiles because that would not be part of the planned mission, but since now there is a threat, what does the pilot do? Use SCALP? Or crash the plane headon?
Su-30 MKI armed with say Brahmos in centreline, KH-35 on two pylons, and rest by A2A missiles would it not be Multi role or swing role? How the plane is armed is based on intelligence reports, And intelligence reports are not credible then you get armed with weapons which may not be used for example Rafale armed with bunker buster SCALP and the terrorist have postponed the meeting till further notice, so what do you do?
France is not the most trusted indian partner, but country which needs more business with India at any cost. Earlier France had some sort of hold in India thanks to Congress connections, and now they are really being worked hard for any deal. Like I said, if its friends, you dont negotiate with them toughly, and if you are negotiating then its just business, not friends.
About the F4, it is still being developed and expected to start production in 2025 by this time 5th Gen PAKFA will be operational along with GaN modules and its excellent avionics suite, which would render planes like Rafale even the F4 development as cannon fodder.
Also a point to remember, Dassault is not developing F4 standard because France wants it, but with planes like PAKFA Rafale would not have chance that of snowball in hell.. There is big chunk of market which is taken by F-35, and then there is chunk that will be taken by PAKFA. the other countries that cannot get planes like F-35 or PAKFA (Middle eastern countries) and for such countries there are planes like Rafale and Eurofighters, good planes 4.5th Gen planes, reliable and not so cheap. And of course capable. IF they want something cheaper than there is Gripen. If countries want Cheaper than that they go for MiG-35 So Rafale is not competing with F-35 or PAKFA, it is competing with Eurofighter, Gripen and MiG-35
Let Dassault come with production version of F4 then we can talk about it, Guess that would be 2025 !!
So, best is for India to go for 150+ LCA Mk1A and LCA Mk2 (to replace MiG-21 and MiG-27 to protect important cities and industrial zones), 150 PAKFA (to be used for penetrating enemy air space and to take down enemy defences and start air dominance, upgrade Su-30 MKI to super Sukhoi status which will ensure Air dominance, And MiG-29 Rafale and other planes to carry out strike and CAPS to ensure that nothing gets in the air
India negotiating additionally 50 more Rafales under second contract. During 1990 India negotiated SU 30 MKI under similarly contract later order huge number of SU 30 MKI and assemble SU 30 MKI in India. In coming years India will order large number of Rafales under Make in India. If Indian Navy order Rafale M it will save money and logistics. I personally think India should order 200 Rafales for air force and 57 Rafales for navy. Rafale very capable fighter and best in class. In Indian Navy fighter jet contest only disadvantage for Rafales is cost and additional cost like folded wings etc. Rafale is an Omni role fighter and has a wide range of weapons and Meteor missile. Rafale will be deployed Pakistan and China border. Reliance already building factory for manufacturing Rafales in India. Indian version Rafale is more capable than French Air Force Version. Scalp cruise missile is very capable and it will be useful in destroying enemy fortified target.
Rafale is currently best fourth generation fighter in the world. There is fifth generation version of Rafale called F 4. Rafale has advanced radar and engines. There is rumor going on that Rafale will be fitted with Kaveri engine in future. Rafale M can fly both INS Vikramditya and INS Vikrant after slight modifications. Rafale is the best bet that India has. France most trusted Indian partner. So finally Rafale is the best for India.
Note:
Above statements written by me is my own and not copied or posted from any other websites or articles.
