36 more Rafales for the Indian Air Force | World Defense

36 more Rafales for the Indian Air Force

Jaeger

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NEW DELHI --- France is likely to offer additional Rafale aircraft to India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the European country for the G-7 Summit on Thursday, sources told ET.

The French side, sources said, is set to offer an immediate sale of two more squadrons, which means 36 additional Rafale jets, to the Indian Air Force that has been grappling with depleting combat force levels.

PM Modi is slated to meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday during which both sides will hold detailed deliberations on a range of subjects including key issues like defence and maritime cooperation.

While the 2016 deal for 36 Rafale jets was signed for €7.87 billion, sources said additional 36 aircraft would cost significantly lesser because payment for fixed costs covering India-specific enhancements, training equipment and infrastructure has already been made. (end of excerpt)
 

Timsah

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quite ironic that they already going for 36 more, yet they don't even have a single one yet in their inventory, oh by the way is France still granting them any sort of local maintenance or production?
 

Jaeger

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quite ironic that they already going for 36 more, yet they don't even have a single one yet in their inventory, oh by the way is France still granting them any sort of local maintenance or production?
no local production or maintenance has been agreed by France. HAL wanted local production but Dassault didn't trust them because of the quality of the Su-30MKIs, that said, Modi wanted a private company to get local maintenance on the Rafale which yet has not been finalized
 

Zeeman

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Just a stupid question but how long after a new aircraft is inducted that they are pushed into active duty and patrolling. Let’s say if India gets their aircraft in September end how long after will we see them flying at LOC?
 

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Just a stupid question but how long after a new aircraft is inducted that they are pushed into active duty and patrolling. Let’s say if India gets their aircraft in September end how long after will we see them flying at LOC?
This will depend on IAF, more then the pilots its the ground engineers and facilities that are the backbone of air operations. All will need to master the Rafale first, I think Dasault aviation engineers would be on hand initially to help IAF with the daily operations.
 

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IAF is now married to this aircraft and it is a good thing for them. there is strange silence among IAF circles like they are waiting for the induction and then they will be flying it like they flew MKI proudly though there is time required to mature with it. they obviously will go for more and we are going to see a size able fleet in years to come. it also opens an opportunity for PAF in France, Egyptian mirages are an example.

it is our preparedness that will be observed, with news coming out if matures it is going to be very interesting times coming ahead and we are waiting anxiously.
 

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Just a stupid question but how long after a new aircraft is inducted that they are pushed into active duty and patrolling. Let’s say if India gets their aircraft in September end how long after will we see them flying at LOC?
@Mastankhan Is the best person to answer this
 

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IMHO ... they should've gone all in on the Mirage 2000H.

Not that the MKI or the MiG-29 for that matter are bad aircraft, but they didn't need to procure as many MKIs as they did, nor did they need the MiG-29 when the Mirage 2000H was already in place. Their multi-role capability would have been superb with 180 M2Ks at hand in February, and instead of rushing for the Rafale, they could have taken their time phasing it in gradually.
 

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IMHO ... they should've gone all in on the Mirage 2000H.

Not that the MKI or the MiG-29 for that matter are bad aircraft, but they didn't need to procure as many MKIs as they did, nor did they need the MiG-29 when the Mirage 2000H was already in place. Their multi-role capability would have been superb with 180 M2Ks at hand in February, and instead of rushing for the Rafale, they could have taken their time phasing it in gradually.
Thats IAF for you, one the major issues for IAF has been too many different types of aircraft in the inventory.
 

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IMHO ... they should've gone all in on the Mirage 2000H.

Not that the MKI or the MiG-29 for that matter are bad aircraft, but they didn't need to procure as many MKIs as they did, nor did they need the MiG-29 when the Mirage 2000H was already in place. Their multi-role capability would have been superb with 180 M2Ks at hand in February, and instead of rushing for the Rafale, they could have taken their time phasing it in gradually.
The word "Banana Republic" comes to mind.
 

Khafee

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Thats IAF for you, one the major issues for IAF has been too many different types of aircraft in the inventory.
Jack of all trade, Maser of none
 

Khafee

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IMHO ... they should've gone all in on the Mirage 2000H.

Not that the MKI or the MiG-29 for that matter are bad aircraft, but they didn't need to procure as many MKIs as they did, nor did they need the MiG-29 when the Mirage 2000H was already in place. Their multi-role capability would have been superb with 180 M2Ks at hand in February, and instead of rushing for the Rafale, they could have taken their time phasing it in gradually.
Wasn't this a M2K that went down on their republic day?

IAF Mirage crash Republic Day -.jpg
 

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Just a stupid question but how long after a new aircraft is inducted that they are pushed into active duty and patrolling. Let’s say if India gets their aircraft in September end how long after will we see them flying at LOC?

Hi,

The first step is the pilot flight training---the ground crew training---which would have already started when the deal was signed. So---the indian pilots and ground crew already be getting their training on the equipment in France awhile ago---.

Indians are already operating the M2k's so they are already familiar with the french equipment---what it feels like and how it flies---but still there are obvious differences---. Remember again---these pilots are not the ordinary pilots---they are the creme de la creme of the indian air force---so they are a force to be reckoned with---but then the Rafale is not a simple aircraft to fly and operate.

Even though the Iaf / France has an operational manual written up for this aircraft---they do not have much to go for against the JF17 Blk2 and the Blk B and the upcoming Blk3---the last 2 would be a major concern---.

On a fastrak---I would say a 4-5 years very intensive training time period---but realistically maybe 7-10 years---.

But the bottomline is how the indian pilots get used to this aircraft and how confident they feel about facing the BLK52's and BLK3---. Is it going to be 3 years or 6 years---only time will tell.
 
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