Rafale DH/EH of Indian Air Force : News and Discussions

There are 24 aircraft to replace before any more second-hand sale can happen.

Yeah, but I'm just going by what the article is saying, 'cause it speaks of funding €1.5B as 85% of the deal. Maybe the French govt finds it more prudent to arm Ukraine than meet ASF's numbers right away. Also the fact that Croatian deliveries are expected in 2024-25.

Also, IIRC, ASF's original time frame did not see deliveries in 2025 and 2026. So that covers 22 jets of the 24, providing enough leeway to afford a third used jets deal.
 
"The National Management Commission wants to shed light on the purchase of American F-35s. It will examine the legality of the evaluation procedure followed for the choice of new combat aircraft for the army. Its work will begin in February."
That sound fair, I saw that AIRBUS has come out criticising the process. It will be interesting to see if they release the prices of all the planes.


Here is your picture showing the AASM 1000 (1000kg) in test for F4. That is station 3 and with 3 tanks and Talios. Now that it is shown that the F-35 has a better fuel fraction. .434 to .430, in this future scenario.
You want to invent another heavy station on 2 and have 5 tanks. That is not referenced anywhere, your own special creation. Even though your new 5 tank with Talios is .441 and 1.6% more that F-35 .434. The F-35 already has a more fuel efficient engine than the Rafale, but in this future. The new engine for the F-35 is already being funded and developed. It will give it about 30% more range again.
 
French planes availability rate is just horrid how much worse for India?

-Another point of attention is the availability of aircraft. If it tends to improve, it remains "perfectible" according to Mr. Ferrara. "Taking into account the issues related to the engine and the level of operational support [NSO], the technical operational availability [DTO] of the Rafale [air and marine] reached 55.8% in the first half of 2021, against 50.4% in 2020", which remains "to be put into perspective" given that the "current rate appears very close to that observed in 2018 [55.7%], and not so far from that of 2017 [53.2%] and 2019 [52.2%]".

Thanks Optimist for link. ;)
 
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Yes a minister lies in front of everyone, to protect Dassault rather than his soldiers?
It's simple they paid Dassault to have an availability of 73% in 2020, if Dassault had not reached they would have claimed the financial penalties, and if they had not done so the Ministry of the Economy would have claimed (in France they are very good at recovering every penny).
 
Yes a minister lies in front of everyone, to protect Dassault rather than his soldiers?
It's simple they paid Dassault to have an availability of 73% in 2020, if Dassault had not reached they would have claimed the financial penalties, and if they had not done so the Ministry of the Economy would have claimed (in France they are very good at recovering every penny).
-Another point of attention is the availability of aircraft. If it tends to improve, it remains "perfectible" according to Mr. Ferrara. "Taking into account the issues related to the engine and the level of operational support [NSO], the technical operational availability [DTO] of the Rafale [air and marine] reached 55.8% in the first half of 2021, against 50.4% in 2020", which remains "to be put into perspective" given that the "current rate appears very close to that observed in 2018 [55.7%], and not so far from that of 2017 [53.2%] and 2019 [52.2%]"
 
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The deal involves performance based logistics (PBL) clause which assures 75% availability for 5 years.
Give it will be a new fleet of planes, that should be achievable. Depending on how many spare engines you get. They have about a 12 month turnaround for major repair. Going by the link, the government say they are cannibalising 14. Probably because of not being able to be repaired. Possible frame cracking or similar terminal issue. They still have ongoing 'engine issues'.

"Out of 102 Rafale available to the AAE in 2020, 14 were immobilized to be "cannibalized" .... Mr. Ferrara. “Taking into account the issues related to the engine and the level of operational support [NSO], the operational technical availability [DTO] of the Rafale [air and navy] reached 55.8% in the first half of 2021"
 
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I haven't seen this posted about 90 rafales


It's pretty old. Been there since right after we signed the deal for 36 in 2016, would have taken us to the 126 jets needed. The govt even tried to push for it, but then backed out for whatever reason. Either due to the bad press or they are using it for as a carrot for the French fulfilling offset obligations.