Su30 MKI price

[C130]

No one denies that the plane is the best in its class but why should we pay more than 100 mil for a single Rafael

that's the price France pays right??
it's a $100 million plane through and through.
for performance you gotta pay, and i believe it'll be cheaper to operate than the SU-30MKI so it's not so bad.

 

[Indo-guy]

We have term in marketing called latent needs.

You guys were made to realize the need for an ominrole fighter all the while the world was doing well without it because of the Rafale's marketing blitz.

Trust me. No airforce needs "category" of fighters. Air forces need platforms based on capability or performance on certain attributes which can counter the adversary's capabilities. The weight class hardly matters if platforms are well planned.

Thanks that 's a very valuable pearl .

this need for Medium role fighter has been over emphasized , over hyped , over advertised and India has been victim of the propaganda .

we have convinced ourselves that somehow we need the Medium category fighter ...and heavy class and light class fighters are not enough ...and sufficient for the job .

@Abingdonboy @sancho @sandy_3126 @Dillinger

Your comments please ...

 

[Indian Patriot]

Hi,

Excuse me for my limited knowledge here, BUt isnt Su-30 classified as heavy fighter which translates into big RCS, its literally a bomb truck. I believe the whole idea of MMRCA was to get medium role fighter wasnt it? (correct me if I am wrong here). So i dont think it feasible to use heavy class fighter to every air incursion.

Just my two cents. Please feel free to add futher information to my knowledge

MKI is the same as the Hornet. It is a bomb truck but has got very good air-to-air capabilities. It is IAF's genuine fighter-bomber so to speak.

MKI would not be used for air interception. That role was previously handled by the Mig-29s and Mig-21s. After the induction of LCA it will have the primary responsibility for point air defense.

There were unconfirmed reports that SU 30 was mauled bt EFTs during last excercise.. I dont know about the parameters but depending on SU 30 alone is a bad idea.. Go for F16s atleast..

F-16 will never be inducted for obvious reasons.

 

[salarsikander]

MKI is the same as the Hornet. It is a bomb truck but has got very good air-to-air capabilities. It is IAF's genuine fighter-bomber so to speak.

MKI would not be used for air interception. That role was previously handled by the Mig-29s and Mig-21s. After the induction of LCA it will have the primary responsibility for point air defense.

Hi,

Then if I may ask, whats was the point of MMRCA program ?

 

[Koovie]

FYI, what Rafale can do..the same can be done by MKI.(There is differences in performances/ranges etc. but in general it can undertake all missions)

The multi role capability of the MKI is not even close to the Rafales one which was designed as a dedicated multi role fighter from its beginning!

 

[Indian Patriot]

Not likely,

The difference being rafale was designed from beginning as multirole system, whereas MKI is a Air Superiority fighter masquerading as a multirole system. But that in now way suggests MKI is an inferior system. Yes Rafale does bring advantage to the IAF Fleet, but the price difference between the current MKI and the Rafale is almost twice.

So can one rafale do more than two MKI's? although a loaded question, there might be rethink in getting the right price for the rafale. IAF should not be paying more than 80 million for the rafale.

Air superiority fighters are usually single seaters like EF 2000 and F-22. MKI is more like F-18.

MMRCA is also required because year after year IAF squadrons are depleting in numbers. Having a new design airframe like Rafale makes sense than having retrofitted Bisons and Fulcrums flying in the air.

Officially the IAF has not specified the responsibility of MMRCA. Tejas is for point defense while MKI is doing both air superiority and strike missions. Induction of Rafale means both MKI and Rafale will have different mission parameters. Having both MKI and Rafale for strike missions is a stupid move which the IAF will not do.

LCA was meant to phase out the Bisons while MMRCA was to phase out the Jaguars and Mig-29s.

 

[rockstarIN]

The multi role capability of the MKI is not even close to the Rafales one which was designed as a dedicated multi role fighter from its beginning!

You should not compare both fighter, rather go by mission wise and you will find MKI can do all missions as Rafale. And if MKI is costing half of Rafale, then WTH. Rather we are also getting FGFAs+LCAs.

 

[Indian Patriot]

IAF has too many aircraft types for its own good.

In future the mainstay of the IAF will be MRCA, MKI, FGFA, LCA.

 

[volatile]

Can any one point out is this price inflation adjusted ,What was the formula used ,Was it a lum sum deal with prices fixed ,and does that contract covers delays and every thing as from business point of view ,1990 s this was big price

 

[Koovie]

You should not compare both fighter, rather go by mission wise and you will find MKI can do all missions as Rafale. And if MKI is costing half of Rafale, then WTH. Rather we are also getting FGFAs+LCAs.

With the retirement of Jaguars and Mig 27s, the IAF will have serious lack in A2G capabilities!
The MMRCA is also meant to fill that gap. Yes, the MKI can carry bombs and A2G missiles, but its capabilities to perform such missions are inferior to the Rafale. The Sukhoi was designed as an air superiority fighter. Performing ground attacks is a secondary capability.

The same goes for the FGFA while Tejas is no match for the Rafale anyways.

 

[Indian Patriot]

Tejas were never meant to be cutting edge 4th gen fighters. They were classified as Mig-21 replacement only.

 

[rockstarIN]

With the retirement of Jaguars and Mig 27s, the IAF will have serious lack in A2G capabilities!
The MMRCA is also meant to fill that gap. Yes, the MKI can carry bombs and A2G missiles, but its capabilities to perform such missions are inferior to the Rafale. The Sukhoi was designed as an air superiority fighter. Performing ground attacks is a secondary capability.

The same goes for the FGFA while Tejas is no match for the Rafale anyways.

LCA MK1 Tejas will surpass Mig 27 and even Jaguar in A2G capabilities. Then there are 58 M2k which is a very good platform. Mig-29 SMT too have A2G capabilities. We are not in a position we were in 1999 Kargil. Twice the price of Rafale is not acceptable.

 

[Indian Patriot]

MKI has a greater take off weight than Rafale and greater range. It would do better as a strike aircraft than a air superiority fighter.

 

[Providence]

Why are you guys not asking more fundamental questions ? Why is it that you need an "OMNI role" ( w/e that means ) while the rest of the world's AF do without it ?

 

[Koovie]

LCA MK1 Tejas will surpass Mig 27 and even Jaguar in A2G capabilities.

Thats debatable

Then there are 58 M2k which is a very good platform.

Tejas MK2 still only exists on paper... Boasting about specs without ever having taken off is nonsense in aviation.

Mig-29 SMT too have A2G capabilities.

We dont have Mig 29 SMTs nor will we use them. The current IAF Mig 29s are being upgraded to UPG standard.


All of the above mentioned aircrafts multirole capabilities are nowhere near to the Rafales one.

Twice the price of Rafale is not acceptable.

The Rafale has capabilities which none of the other aircraft have and which are demanded by the IAF!

If the IAFs doctrine asks for a combat aircraft fleet with state of the art multirole capability instead of quantity its their choice!