tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post1841924364061442662..comments2024-03-28T05:22:10.255-07:00Comments on Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence.: Leaders acknowledge difficulties over Rafale’s high costBroadswordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-64303826662087994242016-01-27T16:48:31.921-08:002016-01-27T16:48:31.921-08:00Can anyone tell me how having 36 Rafael is better ...Can anyone tell me how having 36 Rafael is better than 100 sukois and 150 Tejas . 250 aircrafts against 36 that is 6:1 .I will take that odds any day.We need numbers and nobody knows that better than IAF. Nitheshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10057927088662833249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-33997222032969094242016-01-27T05:06:36.916-08:002016-01-27T05:06:36.916-08:00Opening the doors shut on EF would be the best opt...Opening the doors shut on EF would be the best option for the time being till french make up their minds in lowering the price. Not having plan B has placed france in an advantage position. Does IAF has options other than Rafales? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-22845984391951900672016-01-26T20:26:24.297-08:002016-01-26T20:26:24.297-08:00iN my opinion, the issue of depots, maintenance in...iN my opinion, the issue of depots, maintenance infrastructure and spare part stocks for various types of aircraft shouldn't be an issue as most of these aircrafts like the MIG-21, MIG27, Jaguars are obsolete. They will one day have to be replaced, so you will encounter this issue in the later stage. It looks like the Rafale deal seems to make sense if the depots, maintenance infrastructure and spare part stocks issue is taken into account. As these aircraft become obsolete, the replacement should be Rafale, with that the number of strike aircraft operated by the IAF would be rationalized to 5 from eight. ROBINSONhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01429976292705573516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-35176902339984044592016-01-26T08:57:19.294-08:002016-01-26T08:57:19.294-08:00If they are buying off-shelf, then why not buy the...If they are buying off-shelf, then why not buy the F35s? <br /><br />Another feather in the cap to the India-US G2G defense deals.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-885619849399718442016-01-26T03:36:06.391-08:002016-01-26T03:36:06.391-08:00Referring to the last line in the article about cr...Referring to the last line in the article about critics wondering which part of the Indian defence industry benefits from the Rafale deal; it makes no sense to clarify that while the deal is still being negotiated. Though aspects of it that have been speculated in the media have ranged from one Rafale Production line to jet engine technology for Kaveri to miniature nuclear reactor technology for Arihant's successors. That said, again there is an unhealthy focus on headline costs; when the MMRCA specifically reworked the methodology to consider full life cycle costs. And one must believe that the Defence ministry has hard data on the full life cycle cost of Russian equipment as a point of reference. Also, contrary to popular belief in the Indian media, the delay in concluding the negotiations, hurts Hollande more than it hurts India. It is Hollande who is up for re-election next year; while India is still churning out the less reliable but considerably potent SU-30MKI.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-25497576703702166822016-01-26T01:41:23.044-08:002016-01-26T01:41:23.044-08:00Indeed a timely written article but it was expecte...Indeed a timely written article but it was expected from the blogger. While there is no doubt about the escalated cost of the Rafale contract, we don't know the exact contract details yet, which would include weapons, technology blue prints, training, simulators, spare parts, maintenance etc. It is important to mention here that Rafale was the only strong contender among all MRCA participants because of some obvious advantages. It is an all French fighter, which performs multi role missions, whereas a cost effective fighter like JAS Gripen, which has severe combat limitations in the indian context and actually comparable with Tejas, relies heavily on the US avionics and engine. It would be just ludicrous to buy another Tejas from a foreign country. We already have more than 200 30MKIs, which are predominantly air-dominance fighters and therefore we don't need any more still-in-development mig-35s. Besides there are strong indications that the number of 30MKIs is likely to surpass 400 in near future. We are not matching our capabilities with Pakistan so procuring an improved F-16 is just so pointless and F-18 is meant for carrier-based missions not for typical airforce missions. Typhoon is the best alternative to Rafale but trust me a multivendor product is a pain in back. If the Indian Government had spent a fraction of this money in 2007 on developing key technologies, such as radome, ejection seat, radars, targeting pod and even on improved engine design, we would have not only seen an 100% indigenous Tejas but also flying prototypes of AMCA. IMO whole MRCA was a waste of time & money but a technological inferior country like India doesn't have too many options either. People like Pant and Karnad or the blogger could have different interests and I don't want to waste my/readers time in discussing them here. Nevertheless, let's try not be irrational just for the sack of filling pages for a magazine, newspaper or blog and wait for the final contract details to come out before pointing fingers on the negotiating officials of IAF and ministry. What is more relieving to see in this article, is a total absence of JAS Gripen. The blogger may again label me as 'an idiot' or may be 'a troll' but I take such words as a compliment not as an insult. FYI this is the last comment on your blog. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07650201810121602375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-26451676626022326762016-01-25T21:02:29.371-08:002016-01-25T21:02:29.371-08:00IAF wanted Mirage2000 as it's MRCA. That simpl...IAF wanted Mirage2000 as it's MRCA. That simple wish has ballooned into a monster 15 years later.<br />We now have Tejas that is local & so much cheaper, performance almost there with mirages.<br />We are upgrading mirage 2000s at a huge cost.<br />We are upgrading Jaguars . <br />Have 200+ Su-30 MKI that carry Brahmos. These would not been bought if choice were left to IAF ! <br /><br />Let us not forget 2 squadrons of navy Mig-29s. These are for defence of our motherland even if they belong to Navy. <br /><br />These should do . Will Air Force ever commit 200 MUSD birds to deep strike over china ? <br />Let airforce focus supporting DRDO on stand off weapons. Do they have a design beaure like navy or the proposed one in the army.<br />Can the Air Force for a change spare 1-2 aircraft to test Kaveri engines , quickly ? <br /><br />This budget alone can get our Jawans bullet proof jackets, night vision devices, cameras, better assult rifles, clothing etc.<br />Maybe some sense needs to drilled into this force. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-63816383792211566602016-01-25T19:54:24.237-08:002016-01-25T19:54:24.237-08:00Tell them Au revoir and get the F35 as it would co...Tell them Au revoir and get the F35 as it would cost a little less than Rafale deal and it is a generation ahead of Rafale. Tell them clearly that the price has to be below 100 million per aircraft and all ammo has to be correctly priced if they do it hen no money for those ho were thumping trumpets for Rafale buy as the airforce cannot do without it. Postpone it till November. 2016 and then the deal would work out the way India wants as there would be. Plan B as well as plan C.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com