India Could Save $3 Billion by Choosing F-15 Over Rafale in MRFA Tender as Israel Bought it for $208 Million Per Unit

Israel's recent acquisition of 25 F-15 fighter jets from Boeing for $5.2 billion has sparked a debate in India: could the Indian Air Force (IAF) secure a better deal by opting for the F-15 over the Dassault Rafale in its Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender?

Israel's deal translates to a per-unit cost of approximately $208 million for each F-15, inclusive of infrastructure, logistics, and training. This figure is significantly lower than the estimated $236 million per unit cost of the 36 Rafale jets India acquired in 2016.

The IAF's MRFA tender aims to procure 114 multi-role fighter aircraft. If India were to acquire Rafales at the same per-unit cost as the 2016 deal, the total expenditure would be a staggering $26.9 billion.

However, if the IAF were to choose the F-15 at the same per-unit cost as Israel's deal, the estimated cost for 114 aircraft would be around $23.7 billion, potentially saving India over $3 billion.

Key Considerations​

• F-15 Advantages: Known for its high thrust-to-weight ratio, superior payload capacity, and long-range capabilities, making it a formidable platform for air superiority and strike missions.
• Rafale Advantages: Already operational within the IAF, offering advanced multirole capabilities with a focus on ease of maintenance, survivability, and interoperability. Choosing the Rafale would also streamline logistics and reduce pilot retraining requirements.

The Final Decision​

While the potential cost savings associated with the F-15 are substantial, the IAF's decision will likely involve a complex evaluation of various factors, including:

• Customization and Technology Transfer: The extent to which each platform can be customized to meet India's specific requirements and the potential for technology transfer and local production partnerships.
• Long-term Operational Costs: A comprehensive assessment of maintenance, spare parts, and lifecycle costs for both aircraft.
• Geopolitical Considerations: The strategic implications of choosing an American platform (F-15) versus a French platform (Rafale).

Ultimately, the IAF will need to carefully weigh the cost-benefit analysis of each aircraft to determine which best meets its operational needs and long-term strategic objectives. This decision will have a profound impact on India's defence capabilities for decades to come.

 

[Akshat]

In my opinion even if su 57 is not considered as true 5th gen fighter it is more capable than any other existing non 5th gen fighter jets so its better to purchase su57.

No it’s not. Remember, even Russia has cancelled Su57 orders by 70% and is inducting more Su35. And that was before the Ukraine war. So Su57 is not more capable even when compared to older 4th gen planes.

 

[Shine N s]

Pakis are trying to get rid of F16s how would it look we buying those outdated aircrafts .. as usual Indian Airforce lacks strategic thinking they have always been one step behind paf hats odd to them

 

[WarTech]

Guess IAF would be better off going with RAFALE because of current 36 no.s with IAF another 2 dozen planned for IN. Ordering additional jets can bring the overall costs down. But F15 EX is a beast and fastest among the jets. Let's see how the deal progress.

F-15EX is the best jet that is not 5th gen. But we have geopolitics to consider. But maintenance will be easy if we go with Rafael, but backlogs are the issue.

 

[WarTech]

If at all,not F15 but F18s are necessary so that with certain modifications both air force and navy can be equipped.
Yet,Rafael is still better if the F4 version is offered to us.
However all these purchases are politically influenced.France appears less tricky. Trump may try some trumpobatics to force us to buy F15 as well as F18s.
I will welcome corrections, suggestions from anybody on this blog.

If we want the best jet below 5th gen, then F-15EX easily dominates everything else. But we have to consider geopolitics and cost. Rafael is good for not being tied down by geopolitics, but backlogs are the main issue.

 

[WarTech]

WRONG DATA!! Rafale F4.2 will be 181 millions usd base price bare bones costs per unit of jet. 236 millions usd per Rafale F3R jet costs was in 2014 and is NOT valid now - ALSO, it came to 248 millions usd per unit of F3R jet total costs of 8.9 Billions usd ACTUALLY, if one divides total deal price divided by 36 jets...

Rafale F4 will never be that low. My man, we are not French Air Force to get discounts like those. I don't know the exact cost, but it will be certainly more than $220 million.

 

[WarTech]

In my opinion even if su 57 is not considered as true 5th gen fighter it is more capable than any other existing non 5th gen fighter jets so its better to purchase su57.

Bro, the Russians are having trouble making them since they are far too complex. And also, the Russians are worse at ToT cause the Chinese started making ripoffs so they don't want the same thing to happen in India.

 

[WarTech]

It's apple and oranges comparison. If we want heavy weight ac then why F15 why not from SU30 family.

F15 is the best jet that is not 5th gen. So there is your answer.

 

[WarTech]

Pakis are trying to get rid of F16s how would it look we buying those outdated aircrafts .. as usual Indian Airforce lacks strategic thinking they have always been one step behind paf hats odd to them

First, there are a lot of differences between F-15EX and F-16. Their F16s are old models, not the latest ones. Since the Chinese are giving them new jets, ofcourse they want get rid of old ones.

 

[Anant]

Pakis are trying to get rid of F16s how would it look we buying those outdated aircrafts .. as usual Indian Airforce lacks strategic thinking they have always been one step behind paf hats odd to them

Pakistan is planning to retire their Block 10 and Block 15 F-16s. The ones offered under MRFA are Block 72 variants. Massive, massive difference there.

 

[मित्र]

F15 is the best jet that is not 5th gen. So there is your answer.

How?

 

[WarTech]

How?

Going by the raw specs, F-15EX dominates every thing that is not 5th gen. It has the best radar other than F-35. It is the fastest jet. It has 22 hardpoints which can carry 13 tons of armament, which is the more than any fighter jet. It has advanced cockpit with 360° vision so pilot can be always aware. One of the best EW systems with one of the best IRST system. Since it is twin seater, the backseat can be used to control drones. So much better than anything else in below 5th gen, if it wasn't for geopolitical issues with US, along with cost, it would have been utterly idiotic not to buy them.

 

[Saptarshi Dasgupta]

Pakis are trying to get rid of F16s how would it look we buying those outdated aircrafts .. as usual Indian Airforce lacks strategic thinking they have always been one step behind paf hats odd to them

F-15EX is diff from F-16z . US has ordered 104 such aircraft and Israel Indonesia Qatar and others are getting this. New aircraft altogether . F-16 is old not F-15EX. Also version of F-16 offered to us is F-21 which is almost F-35 without stealth . But again I am not in favour of any of these F series

 

[Sandeep]

It’s obvious that no matter which foreign jet we want to buy for the MRFA we can’t afford to pay around $25 billion for 114 jets.

Right now the best solution is to fix the problems and manufacture the Tejas MK1A jets and not order another 97 as planned. We should quickly finish developing and manufacture the prototypes for Tejas MK2 and AMCA which are the two main essential fighters that we need. Once we manufacture and certify both jets we should let several private sector companies to manufacture the jets who can do it on time and to a high standard.

So far we were only going to manufacture around 100-120 Tejas MK2 jets but we should increase that number to at least 200 jets by not ordering another 97 Tejas MK1A jets from the original 83 jets. Instead we should upgrade the existing 40 Tejas MK1 jets into the Tejas MK1A standard which will give us a final total of 120 Tejas MK1A jets which can be deployed to the front line straight away.

 

[PKPRS]

Thats why i said Rafale M deal will make the price clear, almost similar Numbers Bharat is Buying 26 Rafale M while Israel is buying 25 F-15 jets it will b good to compare, Rafale cost will come down as Bharat have alreay invested for India specific Enhancement plus it also Include weapon package too unlike Israel dont plus Customizations.

Rafale price will never come down, it will only go up.

 

[PKPRS]

Guess IAF would be better off going with RAFALE because of current 36 no.s with IAF another 2 dozen planned for IN. Ordering additional jets can bring the overall costs down. But F15 EX is a beast and fastest among the jets. Let's see how the deal progress.

You don’t want Tejas, TEDBF and AMCA MK1.

 

[Atul]

Saving of 3Billion could cost indirect more with setting up of infrastructure, training and weapon integration.. report is not holistic in its form. RAFALE already has alot in place with lesser turn out time for action.

 

[skgs]

That huge money can be invested in India to fast track lca mk2 and amca. But there is no will or determination among Indian defence establishment to improve defence manufacturing through hard work and dedication. This tender will never materialise. Stop wasting everyone’s time. Another fact, We are poor Country, can’t afford that much money.

 

[Muthu.Kumar]

Cost aside, is F15 on par with Rafael?

 

[Akshat]

Rafale price will never come down, it will only go up.

How can something which is already L1 come down further?

 

[PKPRS]

Oh, and a very shabbily-done comparison. The price of the Rafales was 236.11 million USD back in 2016. Adjust that to French inflation, and that comes to about 272.80 million USD today.

That is Super Expensive, we need to add cost for IAF specific upgrade and on top of that Navy specific upgrade which will take the price beyond $300Mln++.

 

[Akshat]

But does F15 pricing includes weapons too & Indian inhence package infrastructure etc which also needs to be taken into consideration & will USA put riders like not to be used for nuclear attacks or against particular counties etc which limits IAF Powers which is not case for Rafael aircrafts & whatever descision should be fast tracked as first aircraft will arrive only after 3/4 years of deal signed

No it doesn’t. The F15 deal just has Vulcan canons and missile launchers (not missiles). I doubt that can be considered as weapons.

 

[Akshat]

Going by the raw specs, F-15EX dominates every thing that is not 5th gen. It has the best radar other than F-35. It is the fastest jet. It has 22 hardpoints which can carry 13 tons of armament, which is the more than any fighter jet. It has advanced cockpit with 360° vision so pilot can be always aware. One of the best EW systems with one of the best IRST system. Since it is twin seater, the backseat can be used to control drones. So much better than anything else in below 5th gen, if it wasn't for geopolitical issues with US, along with cost, it would have been utterly idiotic not to buy them.

Well we saw in Libya how F18 and UK planes refused to go in without EE while Rafale was going all alone. So I doubt that F15 has the best EW. Also, it has a very inferior weapons package. Meteor dominates every other BVRAAM out there.

 

[मित्र]

Going by the raw specs, F-15EX dominates every thing that is not 5th gen. It has the best radar other than F-35. It is the fastest jet. It has 22 hardpoints which can carry 13 tons of armament, which is the more than any fighter jet. It has advanced cockpit with 360° vision so pilot can be always aware. One of the best EW systems with one of the best IRST system. Since it is twin seater, the backseat can be used to control drones. So much better than anything else in below 5th gen, if it wasn't for geopolitical issues with US, along with cost, it would have been utterly idiotic not to buy them.

You said, second pilot can control drone, whats the basis of that? Was it tested ever on F15 ? In that way Su30MKI also twin seat and can control drones, main question is integration and testing of such systems.

 

[Akshay]

Bold move needs to be taken to Scrap MRFA and put all that money in building Production lines for Tejas Mk1A and future MK2...

If there is engine delay, Frames can be built beforehand... So that timeline doesn't extend much further...

A bold and robust plan needs to taken to get rid of this sticky problem

 

[PKPRS]

How can something which is already L1 come down further?

That was 8 years and for F3, now we need to add inflation cost, also GE engine won’t be given for free, Rafale-M is in AB1 state and the negotiating team’s rear are burnt beyond repair.

 

[Kira]

No, this is only a benchmark for comparison, nothing more. Why? For one, Israel isn't building aircraft locally, so that premium hasn't been factored in. Secondly, Israel already operates a massive F-15 fleet, so a lot of maintenance and support infrastructure is already in place, and wouldn't be purchased again.

Oh, and a very shabbily-done comparison. The price of the Rafales was 236.11 million USD back in 2016. Adjust that to French inflation, and that comes to about 272.80 million USD today.

Also, I believe lots of munitions will be included in this deal as Israel has expended a ton of munitions in over a year operations against Hamas and Hezbollah.Those costs will also need to be factored in.

 

[WarTech]

Well we saw in Libya how F18 and UK planes refused to go in without EE while Rafale was going all alone. So I doubt that F15 has the best EW. Also, it has a very inferior weapons package. Meteor dominates every other BVRAAM out there.

F-15EX is far different from the planes you mentioned, as it is rather new with new systems in place. It has AN/ALQ-250 EPAWSS, which is far better than that of Rafale's Spectra.
AIM-158 JASSM has the range of 370 km while AIM-158B JASSM-ER has the range of 926 km, which easily outranges Meteor's paltry 200 km range.

 

[WarTech]

You said, second pilot can control drone, whats the basis of that? Was it tested ever on F15 ? In that way Su30MKI also twin seat and can control drones, main question is integration and testing of such systems.

Yes, Boeing was considering testing the CCA drones (loyal wingman) drones on the back. While we don't know how far it has gone (after all it'll be secretive), it has much higher chance to do that than Su-30MKI, which hasn't considered that ever.

 

[RG]

It would be hillarious if India selects any US fighter after GE engine issue.

 

[Sridhar]

F-15EX is the best jet that is not 5th gen. But we have geopolitics to consider. But maintenance will be easy if we go with Rafael, but backlogs are the issue.

The whole world knows that F15EX is not a 5th Gen fighter jet. The discussion is about 114 jets which IAF needs badly.