The Rafale takes off for export, finally! (Shift3)

(BRUXELLES2) An orange, white and green roundel will soon adorn Dassault planes. And this one will be able to boast of a choice grip. It should provide, in fact, 126 Rafale planes to the Indian fighter aircraft; Indian Armed Forces confirmed this today (31 January).

The French aircraft manufacturer has just won the mega contract passed by one of the countries which has one of the biggest growth in armaments. All for a reported cost of $10,4 billion. This is a double success for Dassault: first at the economic level which will enable its factories to be provided with a load plan for several years, but also at the political level. For an aircraft that had never managed to sell an aircraft for export, opening such a door is a way out of isolation.

The Indian Air Force had selected six planes in a first round: the Russian Mig 35, the American F-16 and F-18 (one manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the other by Boeing), the Swedish Gripen (from Saab), the EuroFighter Typhoon (from Eads) and the Rafale. Only these last two planes had been retained in the last round. 18 aircraft will be purchased directly, the following (108) will be manufactured on site in partnership with an Indian manufacturer (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited HAL).

technology transfers

India is an old buyer of "Made in France" since it has already equipped itself with the Mirage 2000 (but also with Mig planes, made in Russia, and Jaguar, resulting from Franco-British cooperation). An argument that certainly played. As well as the preference of the Air Force for this plane. But not only. Apparently Dassault made a sufficiently attractive offer, lower than its European competitor, Eurofighter, of 4 to 5 million $, as reported by the Indian economic daily. Economic Times. And above all, he consented to the essential transfers of technology which will also enable India to manufacture an "Indian Rafale" and preserve its defense industry.

A contract yet to be concluded

* A choice which the Elysee quickly welcomed. " The Rafale was selected thanks to the competitiveness of its overall cost over the life of the aircraft, after a pre-selection in April 2011 on the basis of its first-rate operational qualities. (...) The realization of the Rafale project will illustrate the depth and breadth of the strategic partnership between France and India. » Let's be careful though. Because everything is not finalized yet. Contract negotiations will begin. very soon with the full support of the French authorities. It will include significant transfers of technology guaranteed by the French State” is it confirmed. 

The elimination of American planes is also due to the fact that the old enemy, and Pakistani neighbor, is mainly supplied with planes "made in the USA"; therefore for the Indians it was not a guarantee of security of supply. It remains to be hoped that this call for tenders will not be challenged or canceled as has been the case on several occasions in contracts awarded by the Indian authorities, particularly in the field of aviation.

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(Maj with the declarations of the Elysée and a small remark) A dated site? We can notice that the site of the Dassault group remains incomparably discreet on the Rafale plane. Even today, it displays in its first page dedicated to its "aviation" subsidiary, a photo of Mirage in training and of Rafale (even the "best" are taken in by it :-)...). This is not extraordinary proof of confidence in the new aircraft. A paradox when it is explained a few lines above that the company is " always at the forefront of the most innovative solutions ". Not his website apparently.