VayuSena Rafale: News and Discussions - 17 Oct 2016

[Kersi]

https://x.com/ReviewVayu/status/1706989 ... 97142?s=20 ---> Ludovic Dumont, Country Head MBDA India: We understand importance of capability / sovereignty to the IAF. We have strongly committed to Make in India to deliver both industrial sovereignty & best military equipment to India.

https://x.com/ReviewVayu/status/1706989 ... 28452?s=20 ---> Ludovic Dumont, Country Head @MBDAGroup & MBDA India General Delegate: The IAF throughout its history has been a strong user of MBDA’s missiles on a number of different aircraft types. Today the IAF’s latest aircraft Rafale fields a highly potent suite of weapons from MBDA.

What is this "big" missile" on inner wing pylon ? Scalp ?

[Rakesh]

What is this "big" missile" on inner wing pylon ? Scalp ?

Yes

[Pratyush]

What is the real difference between Multi and Omni?

[konaseema]

What is the real difference between Multi and Omni?

To my limited understanding / knowledge,

Multi role - Aircraft has the capability do multiple roles but 1 specific role in a specific sortie (Air to Air Vs Air to Ground)
Omni role - Aircraft has the capability to do multiple roles and can switch from one role to the other in the same sortie (Air to Air & Air to Ground)

Guru's please correct.

[Rakesh]

What is the real difference between Multi and Omni?

To my limited understanding / knowledge,

Multi role - Aircraft has the capability do multiple roles but 1 specific role in a specific sortie (Air to Air Vs Air to Ground)
Omni role - Aircraft has the capability to do multiple roles and can switch from one role to the other in the same sortie (Air to Air & Air to Ground)

Guru's please correct.

Indeed Konaseema-ji. It basically boils down to what Dassault designed the Rafale to do - replace multiple types of aircraft (Mirage F1, Super Etendard, Mirage 2000C/N/D/-5, etc) - with just one aircraft type. Budgets got tight and France did not have money to splurge on different types. Worked out great for them, as the Rafale serves all their needs - air superiority, nuclear strike, carrier borne fighter, anti-ship, precision strike, aerial reconnaissance, SEAD/DEAD (coming in full/new form in the F4 variant), etc.

Caveat - One aircraft cannot do all the missions listed above in a single sortie. No aircraft can. There is some marketing involved here, but it does not take away from the fact that the Rafale can successfully execute different mission profiles in a single sortie. Also read the quoted portions below, from an article written by Air Marshal BK Pandey. That will help. Also check out this link ---> https://rafalenews.blogspot.com/p/rafal ... d-out.html

RAFALE - A FIGHTER PILOT’S DREAM
https://www.sps-aviation.com/story/?id=758
By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey

Dassault Rafale is the first omnirole combat aircraft by design. It has the capability to carry out different complex combat assignments during the same sortie, be it ground attack, beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air combat or interceptions.

Omnirole Capability

As per Dassault Aviation, the Rafale is the first omnirole combat aircraft by design. It has the capability to carry out different complex combat assignments during the same sortie, be it ground attack, beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air combat or interceptions. Its competitors classify their aircraft as ‘multi-role’ or ‘swing-role’. Technologically, the omnirole concept puts the Rafale in a class of its own with cohesive integration of systems on board, catering to diverse mission requirements as highlighted during the operations in Libya. Dassault introduced the ‘omnirole’ capability for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions with the ‘F2-standard’ in the French Air Force and in the French Navy in 2006. Dassault Aviation’s Executive Chairman, Charles Edelstenne said, “Our fighter is employing its omnirole capabilities in this theatre, enabling it to carry out air defence, deep strike, close air support, anti-ship, reconnaissance and buddy-refuelling missions—all from distant land bases or aircraft carriers in missions lasting up to seven hours.”

[Rakesh]

An assembly line can *ONLY* happen in India, with a minimum order of 100 aircraft from the GOI.

The Indian Navy is negotiating for 22 Rafale Ms + 4 Rafale Bs and that leaves a balance of 74 aircraft.

Dassault planning Rafale assembly line in India with an eye on Indian Navy & Air Force orders
https://www.defencenews.in/2023/10/dass ... ce-orders/
09 Oct 2023

[Rakesh]

Below sounds too good to be true, but FWIW...

Just some context --- this particular gentleman has been predicting a large Rafale order since 2019.

https://x.com/Aryan_warlord/status/1711 ... 28954?s=20 ---> What we should hear soon:

1) 26 Rafale M inked, MoU for additional 26.

2) Six squadrons of Rafale will be MRFA. MOU will be signed orders, to be signed in tranches of 2 squadrons every 3-4 years. @VinodDX9 cost will vary from tranche to tranche as we move from F4 to F5 & beyond in tranches. Each deal likely to include upgrade costs for older tranches as well.

3) Dassault to set up the primary Rafale line in Nagpur, Bharat. Will undertake final assembly for some of 80 UAE jets and 42 Indonesian orders here as well.

[Rakesh]

Originally posted by the BenG in the Su-30MKI: News and Discussion thread....

IMHO even with Rafale, we are never going to engage in SEAD or DEAD against PLA. The balakot strike itself was unconceivable in 2018. Pakistan will be the proxy where India can test its military potency against china to a certain degree. Geopolital and Diplomatic realities will dictate that India never provoke china or china start a shooting war with India till the next decade. Even if one starts, I agree with hgupta. Rafale and Su-30 will have the same casualty rate. Only armed drones may be used for SEAD and DEAD missions along the border. The only aircraft which may be employed for the role is AMCA whose development is held hostage to ADA and DRDO's institutional interests.

[Rakesh]

IMHO even with Rafale, we are never going to engage in SEAD or DEAD against PLA. The balakot strike itself was unconceivable in 2018. Pakistan will be the proxy where India can test its military potency against china to a certain degree. Geopolitical and diplomatic realities will dictate that India never provoke china or china start a shooting war with India till the next decade. Even if one starts, I agree with hgupta. Rafale and Su-30 will have the same casualty rate. Only armed drones may be used for SEAD and DEAD missions along the border. The only aircraft which may be employed for the role is AMCA whose development is held hostage to ADA and DRDO's institutional interests.

That Rafale will not conduct SEAD/DEAD is your opinion. And that is fine. You are entitled to your opinion.

But a former IAF chief has said, this is one of the key missions the IAF will do with the Rafale. I will believe with what the Air Chief says on this particular issue. Armed drones are in the future. The only thing that is real is the present.

[Rakesh]

Originally posted by the BenG in the Su-30MKI: News and Discussion thread....

That Rafale will not conduct SEAD/DEAD is your opinion. And that is fine. You are entitled to your opinion.

But a former IAF chief has said, this is one of the key missions the IAF will do with the Rafale. I will believe with what the Air Chief says on this particular issue. Armed drones are in the future. The only thing that is real is the present.

Agreed! Unless IAF flies Rafale into Tibet, we will never know.
Here is a link for further reading on the topic:
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/rafale-f5 ... uards/?amp

As per reports, the proliferation and advancement in Air Defense (AD) radar, missile technology, and introduction of long-range anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) missiles and “high intensity” warfare had led to a debate about whether France needs dedicated EW fighter like the US Navy’s E/A-18G Growler.

Rafale with UCAV
The Dassault Rafale and the nEUROn UCAV flying together. FILE PIC
This was especially true since the AS-37 MARTEL anti-radiation missile was withdrawn from service, and France’s Air and Space Force (AAE) “lost the ability to suppress and destroy enemy air defenses.”

Interestingly, a February 2023 report by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) noted shortfalls in the capability of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) air forces to conduct SEAD/DEAD missions and a shortage of munitions needed for the purpose.

“However, being able to thwart enemy air defense systems is essential to establish the credibility of the airborne component of nuclear deterrence. (But) for the Ministry of the Armed Forces, developing a Rafale dedicated to electronic warfare does not appear necessary to ensure the maintenance of (the) operational superiority” of the AAE.

[Rakesh]

Agreed! Unless IAF flies Rafale into Tibet, we will never know.

We actually already know The Rafale is battle proven in the SEAD/DEAD role. See the second article below.

They are further expanding on the SEAD/DEAD capability in the F4 variant and then onto the F5 variant (in which they are looking into the nEUROn). See the first article below. This is because air defence systems are become increasingly complex and too dangerous for manned crews to go at it alone. F4.1 is already in "testing" service in France, with F4.2 planning for entry in 2027 (which is unlikely to happen) and then the F5 variant in the early 2030s (again, unlikely to happen).

In the Indian context however, we will be sending manned Rafale crews into Tibet, as we are not going to get our hands on nEUROn. India is working on Ghatak and CATS Warrior programs, but it will be a quite a while before such a capability enters frontline, active service with the Indian Air Force.

Moral of the Story - IAF Rafales will be conducting such missions.

France to equip Rafale for SEAD/DEAD mission
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news ... ad-mission
17 Nov 2022

“SEAD will be a core need, and we are looking at getting it onto the Rafale in 2030 using weapons that rely on either speed or saturation,” Col Souberbielle said. As noted by the colonel, the initial capability will be integrated into F4-standard Rafales, with a higher-end capability earmarked for F5 aircraft. The ‘speed' weapon systems to be integrated will likely be the supersonic anti-ship missile being developed by France and the UK under Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) programme (Futur Missile Anti-Navire/Futur Missile de Croisière: FMAN/FMC). The ‘saturation' element might be the Select Precision Effects At Range-Electronic Warfare (SPEAR-EW) effector, or something similar.

Below was the Rafale's experience with the suppression of enemy air defences in Libya.

Rafale Combat Success
http://omnirole-rafale.com/wp-content/u ... x-3-15.pdf

Such was the confidence of the French aircrews in their new mount that all missions were conducted without any support from dedicated electronic warfare and SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defences) assets: thanks to its Spectra state-of-the-art electronic warfare/self-defence suite, the Rafale was able to operate at will in a dangerous environment, against a dense network of deadly surface-to-air missile systems. Even more significant is the fact that the Rafale was able to accurately locate enemy air-defence systems and engage them.

Among the Rafale’s weapons, the Scalp stealth cruise missile was singled out for long-range strike missions against hardened targets very deep inside Libyan territory. Strikes were conducted by a combination of French Navy Rafales and Armée de l’Air Rafales and Mirage 2000Ds. It is understood that the first target for the Scalps was a heavily-defended high-value target deep inside Libya, where a strike with close range weapons would have proved unnecessarily dangerous.

The Rafale’s sensor and armament suite has proved extremely effective and remarkably flexible, explains the Commanding Officer of French Navy Flottille 12F. I will take one example: the Rafale’s weapon system has not been specifically designed for the DEAD role, the Destruction of Enemy Air Defences. With all our sensors - the radar high-resolution mode, the Spectra suite and the Damoclès and Front Sector Optronics systems - we were, however, fully capable of detecting, localising and engaging enemy surface-to-air missile sites and we destroyed SA-3 and SA-6 SAM systems with our AASMs, including some mobile, time sensitive systems. This was a significant achievement. I would like to insist on the fact that Flottille 12F is one of the very few units in the world which can carry out such a large array of missions from a carrier deck, from reconnaissance to nuclear deterrence, from DEAD to anti-ship attacks, from close air support to air-defence.

[Rakesh]

What Makes the Rafale Aircraft an Unstoppable Force?

[Rakesh]

Exit Biden and Enter (?) Macron!!! Unkil is having a fall from grace and is no longer singing "Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Todenge..."

Next month could bring in more news on the Rafale M for the Indian Navy and perhaps even an announcement on the MRFA!

French President Emmanuel Macron likely to be Republic Day chief guest
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 191714.cms
22 Dec 2023

This week, the French government has submitted its response to India's Rs 50,000 crore tender to purchase 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for the Indian Navy. India has initiated the $6 billion deal with France for the acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft, aiming to enhance the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier capabilities. The procurement includes 22 single-seated Rafale Marine aircraft and four twin-seater trainer versions.

[Kartik]

Exit Biden and Enter (?) Macron!!! Unkil is having a fall from grace and is no longer singing "Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Todenge..."

Next month could bring in more news on the Rafale M for the Indian Navy and perhaps even an announcement on the MRFA!

French President Emmanuel Macron likely to be Republic Day chief guest
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 191714.cms
22 Dec 2023

This week, the French government has submitted its response to India's Rs 50,000 crore tender to purchase 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for the Indian Navy. India has initiated the $6 billion deal with France for the acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft, aiming to enhance the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier capabilities. The procurement includes 22 single-seated Rafale Marine aircraft and four twin-seater trainer versions.

I would seriously doubt any such announcement on the MRFA front given that it hasn't even had a RFP released as yet. It would be great if the PM could cut down on this "competition" tamasha and just go for a 100 unit Rafale order with an assembly line in India. But that close to the elections, I doubt anything of that kind will happen.

It'll most likely be an announcement on the Rafale M instead. Not a lot of time for that either.

[Rakesh]

Exit Biden and Enter (?) Macron!!! Unkil is having a fall from grace and is no longer singing "Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Todenge..."

Next month could bring in more news on the Rafale M for the Indian Navy and perhaps even an announcement on the MRFA!

So Macron is indeed coming!

https://x.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/173 ... 02298?s=20 ---> Thank you for your invitation, my dear friend @NarendraModi.

India, on your Republic Day, I’ll be here to celebrate with you!

https://x.com/narendramodi/status/17382 ... 92020?s=20 ---> My Dear Friend President @EmmanuelMacron, we eagerly look forward to receiving you as the Chief Guest at the 75th Republic Day. We will also celebrate India- France strategic partnership and shared belief in democratic values. Bientôt!

[hgupta]

Of course he is coming because he knows that he can scalp India for high prices on French weapons. We are paying $6B!!! $6B!!!! for 26 Rafales. $230 million dollar per plane.

[Rakesh]

Of course he is coming because he knows that he can scalp India for high prices on French weapons. We are paying $6B!!! $6B!!!! for 26 Rafales. $230 million dollar per plane.

The French have put in their offer. India is reviewing the offer.

Let the negotiations begin and then let the contract get signed. After that is done, then we can talk about the price.

[Rakesh]

With 400 J-20 Stealth Fighters In Arsenal, Can India Explore F5 ‘Super Rafales’ To Challenge PLAAF Jets?
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/with-400- ... can-india/
20 January 2024

By Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd)

[ashthor]

The closer Rafale comes more khujali starts

[Pratyush]

The push has to be to complete the MK1A delivery on time with the seamless entry into service of the MWF/Mk2. Followed by the AMCA.

The AMCA Mk1 production program has to go beyond 40 airframes from day one. Perhaps there needs to be orders for several hundreds of the aircraft.

IAF needs to get out of the reactive moder in thinking about super fighter and silver bullets.

[Vivek K]

With 400 J-20 Stealth Fighters In Arsenal, Can India Explore F5 ‘Super Rafales’ To Challenge PLAAF Jets?
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/with-400- ... can-india/
20 January 2024

By Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd)

Sure delay procurement another few years and then buy whatever shiny toy you like!! Send Indian jobs overseas and keep India low tech!

[Roop]

The closer Rafale comes more khujali starts

Forget foreigners, sad to say, I think we will find that the anti-Rafale khujli is going to come mostly from interest groups like Pappu & Co., Khujliwal & Co. and their chelas like Saggy / Needy / Barky.

[Rakesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/IndiaToday/status/1749816 ... 98349?s=20 ---> In an exclusive interview with @Geeta_Mohan, former Indian Ambassador to France, @AmbMoKumar, speaks about the significance of the India-France relations, especially focusing on the defence partnership. Kumar suggests that India should make Rafale for UAE, Qatar, Egypt markets.

[Rakesh]

Cannot verify the veracity of this picture, as some are saying it is photoshopped. But FWIW...

https://x.com/aeroconcepts1/status/1749 ... 26668?s=20 --->

[rags]

With 400 J-20 Stealth Fighters In Arsenal, Can India Explore F5 ‘Super Rafales’ To Challenge PLAAF Jets?
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/with-400- ... can-india/
20 January 2024

By Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd)

Sure delay procurement another few years and then buy whatever shiny toy you like!! Send Indian jobs overseas and keep India low tech!

How many locally made air defense and Brahmos/ Nirbhay's systems can you buy to counter those 400 J-20's for $70 Billion (Assuming 36 Rafales we have cost $6 Billion). Not counting Opex.

[AkshaySG]

Cannot verify the veracity of this picture, as some are saying it is photoshopped. But FWIW...

https://x.com/aeroconcepts1/status/1749 ... 26668?s=20 --->

This user/channel essentially puts different liveries on existing aircraft.. So for example an Air India livery on MD-11, etc, etc.

[Manish_P]

The name 'Aeroconcepts' itself is a give away isn't it...

[Rakesh]

Formal contact will be signed post 2024 General Elections, to avoid any drama from the opposition.

The only logical conclusion to a nearly 25 year saga of MMRCA, SEF and now MRFA contests. What the IAF wanted from Day 1 (way back in 2000, when Air HQ wanted 126 Mirage 2000-5s) will likely culminate in a signed contract for Rafales, another French fighter.

Nearly a quarter of a century (for now!) to execute a contract for fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force. Our own Tejas celebrated her 23rd anniversary of her first flight on 04 Jan 2024, another quarter century saga.

Rafale Fighter Jets To Roll Out From Mihan-SEZ In Nagpur, says Gadkari
http://m.timesofindia.com/articleshow/107196397.cms
28 January 2024

[Cybaru]

If Dassault makes it, then the value produced in the country is very low. There is no addition to the learning curve. There is no curve at all. It needs to go to HAL that can capitalize on the next gen aircraft and can learn a few things and make improvements. The private player value chain is just wasteful at the moment.

[Mort Walker]

Formal contact will be signed post 2024 General Elections, to avoid any drama from the opposition.

The only logical conclusion to a nearly 25 year saga of MMRCA, SEF and now MRFA contests. What the IAF wanted from Day 1 (way back in 2000, when Air HQ wanted 126 Mirage 2000-5s) will likely culminate in a signed contract for Rafales, another French fighter.

Nearly a quarter of a century (for now!) to execute a contract for fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force. Our own Tejas celebrated her 23rd anniversary of her first flight on 04 Jan 2024, another quarter century saga.

Rafale Fighter Jets To Roll Out From Mihan-SEZ In Nagpur, says Gadkari
http://m.timesofindia.com/articleshow/107196397.cms
28 January 2024

I don't think elections are the reason. This is unlikely unless price comes down significantly per unit. India's total-debt-to-GDP ratio is about 81% at the end of Dec. 2023. The IMF has warned the GoI that getting to 100% or higher by 2028 would not be good. The reasoning is it risks bond ratings to lower. GoI is committed to bringing down total debt-to-GDP ratio to under 70% in the same time frame. For better or worse it will have to be Tejas.

[Yagnasri]

It's a bit OT, but we shall stop this transfer of tech thing. We learn nothing in real and critical terms. Local manufacturing is also just scrudirvergiri. We all know that. In fact, that will be more costly in some cases. So either you buy the things you need with maybe some set-off clause or make things in Bharat. Rest is only a waste of time and illusion.

[Rakesh]

This is the impasse ---> Air HQ wants *ONLY* Rafale. They do not want anything else, especially the US birds. The wishy-washy Americans can always be relied on to be unreliable. That is the only consistent behaviour they have displayed since 1947. There is 100% certainty that the ChiComs will always be India's enemy. In the same vein, there is 0% certainty that America will always stand by India's side. Today, from Pannu to F404 production (for Tejas Mk1A) to India's support for Russia (over Ukraine) to Iran to whatever else, the US State Dept is having a really hard time coping with the fact that the Indian Govt has successfully navigated these geopolitical minefields. The wily & crafty Jaishankar is not very well liked in the US State Dept

The Tejas Mk1A will get inducted in large numbers. The additional 97 order will be placed this year. The only ambiguity (for me) is whether it will be pre 2024 election or post 2024 election. A 180 Mk1A production is nothing to dismiss. It is a very respectable and healthy production run. My only frustration lies with the fact that instead of 83 Mk1As, Air HQ and the MoD should have just ordered 180 from day one. But that is how it played out. However, even after 40 Tejas Mk1s, 180 Tejas Mk1As and 200 Tejas Mk2s there will still be a drop in numbers. That math is clearly there for everyone to see. Air HQ will not achieve the magic 42, despite these purchases of local maal.

Also, having 420 frontline aircraft - all operating US origin turbofans - is not a very palatable meal for Air HQ to swallow. But they have no choice now. They have to go with this. But anything above and beyond this, in sizeable numbers, will not pass muster at Air HQ. Thus MRFA to spread the risk.

The problem with ordering any additional Rafales directly from France is that the present order book is more than the production line capacity at Merignac. It will take years to deliver these orders to all the foreign customers that are waiting for their Rafales to arrive. Example - UAE has to get its first batch of Rafale F4s in 2027. Delay in deliveries will result in penalties imposed to Dassault, as indicated in the contract. The French Air & Space Force itself is waiting for its own F4 deliveries to begin.

Dassault *HAS* to create a second line, which they would rather not invest financial resources into. They would prefer to have a foreign customer pay for that second line, while Dassault reaps the profits from that line. Enter India, which has just placed an order of intent for 26 Rafale Ms for the Indian Navy and everyone from the Dassault CEO to the chaiwallah who serves tea at Air HQ, knows that the IAF will order additional Rafales as its chosen MRFA. But Dassault - like all the other OEMs in the MRFA contest - require a minimum order of 100 aircraft to set up a production line in India. By insisting on only Rafale as the MRFA, Air HQ has boxed itself into a corner. But nothing else will work either. That is also a fact.

The only way additional Rafales will not come, is if some compelling evidence comes to light, proving that the Modi Govt was indeed corrupt in the first Rafale contract or if the BJP loses the 2024 election. I don't have a crystal ball to predict the future, but to me 2024 is in the bag for the BJP. This election is for the BJP to lose.

How this second line will benefit India, if at all, remains to be seen. However, this second line will serve not just Indian customers....but other international Rafale customers as well. It will be another screwdrivergiri line onlee, which MoD will call ToT

P.S. If anyone has even an iota of a doubt, as to whether the IAF will order a US bird, please read this post ---> viewtopic.php?p=2611903#p2611903

Who remembers the Single Engine thread? Still there on BRF in the archives. NRao was leading the charge for F-16s for India and why the Tejas program was a great effort, but the F-16 is a better and quicker bet. The famous Ashley Tellis wanted India to curtail the Tejas program at just 40 airframes and focus on producing F-16s in India, for India and the world. The same arguments (kill switch, unreliability, end use inspections, closed boxes, etc) were mentioned in the Single Engine thread as well. But it was dismissed as BRF being narrow minded and not able to see the big picture i.e. Alliance with Amreeka. Now when the UK is facing the same issues, albeit on a different US bird, where are all the Tier 1 industry experts who were touting the value of F-16 production in India? Even Tellis has now gone silent.

[Rakesh]

Another article. FWIW...

Rafale fighter jets to be rolled out from Nagpur, India
https://indiandefenseanalysis.wordpress ... pur-india/
28 Jan 2024

The Indian Navy has selected Rafale-M as its deck-based fighter jet and orders for them are yet to be placed. A much bigger order is speculated from IAF which operates 36 Rafale fighter jets. Under multi-billion-dollar MRFA program, IAF plans to acquire 114 multi-Role fighter Aircraft for which Rafale is front runner.

The plan to roll out Rafale fighter jets from India depends upon the combined order of fighter jets from armed forces. Dassault Aviation will be looking for a bigger order to activate the manufacturing pipeline in India. It is worth noting that there have been reports of Dassault-considering taking over Reliance’s share in the venture. Presently, Dassault holds 49% of DRAL, while Reliance Aerostructure Limited, a subsidiary of Reliance Defence Limited, owns the remaining 51%.

To summarize, yes there are plans and development happening to produce Rafale fighter jets from India, however it will depend on the number of fighter jets ordered which again points towards the MRFA program.

[Rakesh]

Dassault’s whirlwind of Rafale orders may be too much of a good thing
https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/mi ... ood-thing/
22 January 2024

[Rakesh]

Exclusive: 'Space the ultimate high ground for all operations', says Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari
https://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/20 ... rview.html
27 January 2024

Q. Notwithstanding the success of the LCA and its variants, and the potential and aspirations around the AMCA, how important is the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft in the interim period? Is it on the horizon?

A. To provide credible deterrence, it is imperative to have indigenous fighter aircraft development and production wherewithal. At the same time, we are aware that projects like AMCA take time and resources to fructify. In the interim, given our not-so-friendly neighbourhood, it is important that the strength of our combat assets is not depleted further. While the IAF fully supports the indigenous fighter development programme, the gestation period of this programme implies that there would be a void in numbers and technology of fighter aircraft, considering the impending drawdown of legacy fleets. To ensure that the IAF retains its edge, acquisition of MRFA is extremely important.

[Prasad]

We might end up buying 36 more Rafales and however many Navy manages to convince the PMO to buy. If that is another 24-36, it'll adding up to 70 or so a/c. Perhaps that would set the ball rolling on making it here. But with no future prospects, especially if TEDBF is finally sanctioned and starts production, there might be massive opposition to keep buying rafales.

[ashthor]

Reliance for - Rafale
Adani for - Gripen
Tata for - F16

No one for AMCA....Atamanirbhar down the drain. Everyone wants to do screwdriver giri.

[dinesh_kimar]

Exclusive: 'Space the ultimate high ground for all operations', says Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari
https://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/20 ... rview.html
27 January 2024

It is unfortunate that ACM making utopian statements like " Space is ultimate high ground", when he has plenty of problems / improvements on the ground.

Singapore , Turkey and Spain have more refuellers, AWACS and EW aircraft than the IAFs 6+3 assets .
So, their sortie rate and quality of information is expected to be higher. Our IAF, even with dedicated Satellites somehow falls short tactically. Post Balakot bomb damage assessment was done by commercial satellite, no drone / recon asset was available.

Our MRO capabilities for fighters need deep upgrades, too much dependence on parent country. No infrastructure such as engine test cells in BRDs, these are sent back to the production factory where " license manufacturing with 100% raw materials" is taking place. They don't have radar and avionics test stands and fixtures, so BEL is kept busy.

Not standardised on stuff like lubricants, brake linings, tyre suppliers, Heads Up display, night vision goggles, weapons racks and trolley, etc.

Smaller nations have smartly standardised on gear, 1-2 types of transports fleets, and replace entire fleets near obsolescence.

Also, Air Commands have only 1-2 simulators available for 100+ aircraft fleets, each squadron should ideally have a couple of simulators, to improve flying quality, reduce risk during new manoeuvres, and help to lower costs (apparently ₹ 75,000/hour for some aircraft.)

If MRO is improved, even with squadron size made to 16, with 1-2 refuellers and 1 AWACS/ EW aircraft per 3 squadrons , our effectiveness will grow by leaps and bounds.

On plus side, CAS weapons are mostly 2000 lb MK 84 type, the DRDO flying bombs are welcome and long pending development. Air to air missile and SAM also some welcome developments.

[Rakesh]

Formal contact will be signed post 2024 General Elections, to avoid any drama from the opposition.

Rafale Fighter Jets To Roll Out From Mihan-SEZ In Nagpur, says Gadkari
http://m.timesofindia.com/articleshow/107196397.cms
28 January 2024

Article below refers only to the Rafale M, however I suspect a much larger deal is in the works.

India, France to expedite Rafale M negotiations after Lok Sabha elections
https://www.firstpost.com/world/india-f ... 71012.html
30 Jan 2024

[Cain Marko]

After elections eh? This is sounding a bit like the m2k deal during 2005 election year. Everyone was so sure of India shining team with George Fernandez and ABV winning, and we all know what happened. M2k "done deal" became mmrca, which became sef, which became mrfa with no phyter in sight 20 years later.

Hope this doesn't repeat. Nation can't afford another lose decade. I think it's horrible negligence that India didn't immediately buy rafale line after 2019 win. By now we'd be churning out 1sqd per year