Rafale a Strong Contender for India's MRFA Tender Due to IAF Familiarity, But US Govt Pressuring India to Choose F-16 Viper: French Media

The Indian Air Force's (IAF) quest for 114 new multi-role fighter aircraft under the Medium Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program has intensified, with Dassault Aviation's Rafale and Lockheed Martin's F-16V Viper emerging as the key contenders.

While the Rafale appears to be favored by the IAF, reports suggest the US government is actively lobbying India to select the American fighter jet.

French online military portal Avions Legendaires suggests that the IAF's familiarity with the Rafale, gained through the operation of 36 Rafale fighter jets and the impending acquisition of 26 Rafale M for the Indian Navy, gives Dassault a significant advantage.

The portal highlights the IAF's previous rejection of the F-16 platform in the earlier Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition, where the F-16 Block 70 failed to meet technical requirements.

However, Lockheed Martin, rebranding the F-16V as the F-21 specifically for India, is reportedly receiving strong support from the US administration. This diplomatic pressure, as reported by Avions Legendaires, aims to sway India towards the American offering.

Cost considerations also play a crucial role. While the per-unit cost of the F-16V, based on Taiwan's recent purchase of 66 units, is estimated to be around $197 million, the Rafale's per-unit cost, based on India's 2016 deal, is approximately $244 million. However, these figures can vary based on customization, additional equipment, and negotiations.

Rafale's prospects is further supported by the recent high-profile visit of India's National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, to Paris, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron and other top officials to discuss defence cooperation.

The MRFA competition is a critical procurement for the IAF, with the chosen aircraft set to play a crucial role in India's defense strategy for decades to come. The final decision will likely hinge on a complex interplay of technical capabilities, pricing, and geopolitical considerations. With both Dassault and Lockheed Martin vying for this lucrative contract, the competition is expected to be fierce.

It remains to be seen whether the IAF's operational experience with the Rafale or the US government's lobbying efforts will ultimately sway the decision in this high-stakes competition.

 

[sanket]

What time frame exactly do you think eventually is ?

Let the process of MRFA start & one who meets All parameters set by IAF for MRFA & Winner is announce, & IAF know better when to start MRFA Circus

 

[Robin]

F-21 is a F-16 block 70 with F-35 like cockpit and composite materials, triple missile launchers and Gallium nitride version of APG-83 and other EW systems. Comparing Su-75 which has not flown with a proven airframe is naive. It is a F-16 block 70 but with elements of F-35 Block 4 since india requires a 4.5 gen jet with modern avionics and cheaper price USA has pitched this. But again I would say getting something is better than nothing. If Rafale does not work out , su-57 does not work out F-21 will give us something. My ideal choice would have been F-15EX but again it is a heavy fighter in Su-30 category so we won’t have it . Eurofighter typhoon has multiple issues . Gripen e is another fighter I would be happy with if Rafale doesn’t win due to price

Its a wrong step.We already have rafale,just top it up.No need to have 10 different set of equipments.

And I would reiterate ,F-21 is a thing they are offering only for India and it is not under any service and is not expected to be.Just a lollipop for stupid Indian defence planners.

We area poor nation ,economy is barely going to tough 4 trillion with huge population.Why not act a bit smart by getting similar equipment in good numbers.Just like elections every 3 months ,we have these stupid new RFI and contracts every few years.

I am not fan of rafale ,in my opinion it's just obsolete vs j-20 based on stealth alone ,it would be seen first and shot at first.So ideally yes I agree with u 100 percent we should have gone with F-15 silent eagle just based on better stealth than rafale.But that ship has sailed ,we already have rafale and for the sake of making process easier and more integration we should get these only.

All the effort and time for stealth and other features should be spent on amca.

I have said many times already,the new gen war with extensive esm ,jamming ,sir defence won't be determined by air force especially against capable opponents( China ) so better strategy is to be able to build everything and fast. Only forces that can replace the lost equipment have any chance of winning the modern war.

 

[Anant]

you are wrong , Source for ur claim that F-16 are in operation in Ukraine

This is an older article (before the F-16 loss), but I'll come to that after the URL: (As always, please remove the parentheses.)

Ukraine’s F-16s Have Scored Their First Aerial Kills

The nimble jets reportedly shot down Russian cruise missiles on Monday.

www.forbes.com

Now, coming to recent news, as I mentioned, normal operations are not going to make the news. If a F-16, or a MiG-29, or an American F-35, or an Indian Su-30MKI, or any other aircraft for that matter, engages in normal operations and comes out fine, that is just business as usual. News is only made when something out of plan happens, which hasn't happened after the first F-16 loss. What may well have happened is that the Ukrainians may have deployed them on defensive operations instead, which is still operational use.

Also, do you actually have any source that says F-16s were withdrawn from operations? If not, I have a logical analogy to show that they would be continuing operations:

F-16 operations were happening at one point (this is a fact). So were other aircraft and other Western assets being used. Losses of those other aircraft and other Western assets have not led to their withdrawl. Hence, without evidence specifically stating so, it can be assumed to be correct that the F-16 is still engaged in normal operations.

 

[Aloutte]

There is no plane called F-21 as of yet.Its a lollipop like su-75 checkmate.

Not really, F21 is Block 72 with a powerful computer, GE F110 engine that produce 146.4 KN thrust almost same power as twin engine Rafale and some hi tech equipments shared from F35.

 

[Aloutte]

US can't supply anything on time due to political supply chain issues. Neither engines, nor drones, nor Apaches. What makes you think they can supply 114 fighter jets on time.

Better than Dassault that took 6 years to supply only 36 jets.

 

[Muthukumar Ponnambalam]

I knew LM will be. It's knows for it's "ways of winning the deal", as they're published documents.

Also, the LM CEO met the PM and the USA will thrust LM, GE etc down the throat of India and India may not have a choice but to budge.

The least India could do is to say "either F-35 or no deal". Not a decades old F-16 however it's rebranded or repackaged.

 

[Varaaah]

What pressure? Only those who do not have a clear mind feel pressure.