Cain Marko wrote:^ If the cost is prohibitive ($ 20 billion+ is my humble guess), get half the quantity, with options for 126 more. IOWs, exercise the option for the second purchase of 63 birds first. Possibly even directly sourced from France to reduce cost of infrastructure build up. Price around $ 10 billion or less.
This would address all the issues brought up by Bahadurji in the article above. Remaining $s can be invested in LCA, IFR systems, AEW etc. along with investment in AMCA. Of course, it remains that the MKI is something that can tackle most of the "high end" type requirements he is talking about.
Cost is a variable thing and it depends what India wants , if we want say 90 % TOT of aircraft and engine and Lic production and 1 and 2nd line of maintenance facility along with training , logistics chain etc the cost will be high
On the contrary if we need limited TOT like source code and ability to integrate it on our own all weapons , specific TOT on Radar or Engine Maintenance then cost will be lower.
Its in the realms of speculation what we have bought and what we are willing to pay and the delay in MMRCA due to political and economic reason does no good.
Having said that we need to put Rafale deal on high priority along with FGFA its absolutely Critical for Airforce to maintain the numbers and technology capability with the already dropping squadron number and technology obsolescence IAF is staring at. Hopefully the final deal is for 126 + 80 more to have a total fleet of 200 Rafale.
Just recently met some top guy associated with IAF in talks he mentioned that squad level was actually lower than what IAF/MOD is stating and the situation is critical when it comes to availability of aircraft at any point in time . I dont want to put the numbers I heard from him but it couple of squadron below what the number MOD puts up in public ...