IDN TAKE: Dassault Can Deliver Rafale Fighters To IAF On Time

France has had nothing but hard times trying to find export customers for Rafale and that had consequences. In 2009 the production rate was reduced from 14 a year to 11 and that was further reduced later. This was to slow down the delivery of Rafales, mainly because the Defense Ministry has decided that other things were more important. The new emphasis (and spending) was on peacekeeping and anti-missile defenses. Another reason for slowing down Rafale production was the lack of export orders. Since 2015 production has increased and the manufacturer points out that it has the capability to increase production quickly. By late 2017 over 170 Rafales had been built and over a hundred more were on order.

However things are looking up for the French, Qatar recently ordered additional 12 Rafale fighter jets for the Qatar Emiri Air Force. That order stems from Qatar exercising an option for 12 Rafale fighters, boosting its acquisition to 36, based on a contract signed May 2015.

India Angle

In 2016 India finally agreed to buy 36 Rafale fighters with an option to buy another 18. India has been seeking to modernize its military and has most recently turned to the United States for assistance. France wants to build up its relationship

with India, as well, and was eager to sell India some Rafale fighters.

The Indian Air Force was already using the Mirage-2000 and has historically liked Dassualt aircraft. The two main sticking points, standing in the way of a deal were the Rafale’s rising price tag and whether our industry will be able to produce the fighter domestically. India insisted on co-production (some Rafale manufacturing done in India) and the French believed we overestimated our capabilities in handling some of the advanced technologies that go into the Rafale. Of course, we want local manufacturers to handle that advanced tech and this is how we can learn. At the same time we also want the French to be held responsible for the quality of items produced in India, this was a contentious issue with the French, but thankfully this major issue has been circumvented.

Dassault finally got around that with the $20 billion deal for the Rafales if they could be delivered quickly (between 2019 and 2025) and in 2017 we began negotiating for the purchase of another 36 in order to improve the chances against an increasingly aggressive China. This new Rafale deal depended on how quickly France can deliver and the French say they can do it and in the case of Egypt demonstrated that ability. (Adapted from SP portal)

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