In what could be a setback for Boeing , India could soon announce a major deal for 26 carrier-based naval fighters from Dassault Aviation. The competition between the two were fierce but souces say, the 4.5+ Gen French Fighter has the edge, based on Indian operational requirements.
Not yet made official, but there are enough indication that Dassault Aviation's Rafale-M is expected to win the order to supply fighters for INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, beating the rival Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
Earlier, Boeing not only made strong efforts to sell the F/A 18 Super Hornet Block III to the Indian Navy, it also had announced that the Super Hornet production line will closed in 2025 unless an export order is received, presumably referring to this Indian requirement.
The Indian Air Force has already acquired 36 Rafale fighters. The commonality of the fleet and the resultant savings on training, repairs and maintenance have reportedly tilted the scale in favour of Dassault’s Rafale Marine. The two versions of the aircraft have over 80 per cent common features.
This purchase could cost the Indian government at least US$8 billion, calculated back of the envelope based on the price of 36 air force variants bought in 2016. All 36 Rafales were delivered to the Indian Air Force by the end of 2022.
It's being learnt that the Indian Navy has communicated to the Indian Ministry of Defence of its preference for the French fighter aircraft Rafale Marine over the only other contender, Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet.
The Indian Navy has submitted a procurement proposal for the French fighter following a detailed comparison of its capabilities with those of the US-built F/A-18 Super Hornet.
The Indian Air Force operates a fleet of 36 Rafale fighter jets from two bases in India’s North and East. The fleet’s commonality, as well as the savings on training, repairs, and maintenance, are said to have tipped the balance in support of Dassault’s Rafale Marine, the report noted.
What goes against Boeing is that Rafales are currently operational within the IAF. As a result, aspects such as technology, maintenance, and repairs would be much easier for Dassault fighters over Boeing jets.
Additionally, Boeing recently announced that it had decided to shut the production of the new-build F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft in late 2025, giving Rafale a clear advantage over US Navy jets.
Indian news paper The New India Express believes, ,
All is not lost for the US. India still has to procure about 126 fighters for its Air Force, and the US is still in the fray for a big contract for its F-21 fighters. India recently announced its interest to acquire fifth-gen jets, and with F-35s coming to India for the Aero India show, nothing can be ruled out. The US admitted that India was in the early stages of negotiations for F-35 stealth fighters.
Dassault Aviation will also enable a repair facility for the Rafales onboard the INS Vikrant, in addition to one in Goa’s INS Hansa naval air base, and will also train the naval aviation ground personnel, in addition to the pilots.
Rafale-M has been in a close contest with Boeing’s Super Hornet for the Indian Navy’s tender. The Indian Navy was presumably impressed by the capabilities of French-made fighter aircraft during a joint exercise in India.
Meanwhile, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar recently said that Rafale M has an advantage in terms of spare parts and maintenance due to its commonality with the Indian Air Force’s fleet.
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