ashdoc wrote:This is a sorely tempting offer , at least to me . 

Yes , the Rafale is a more advanced aircraft . But we are going to get only 36 of them at a very huge amount of money . And that is just not enough numbers !! 

The F 18 is less advanced , in fact one generation behind the Rafale . But if it is made in India with cheap Indian labour , then it's already lower price will become even more lower . We will be able buy no less than 150 F 18s at the price of 36 Rafales . And at the moment we desperately need aircraft to fill up our squadrons , because the stealth fighterjet deal with Russia is close to collapse . 

The F 18 super hornet is enough to deal with Pakistan's F 16s and 150 F 18s will put up a better fight against China's Sukhois than 36 Rafales . China's own stealth program is not successful with their stealth fighter not having a satisfactory engine for stealth , so we don't have to worry about that . F 18 can also be used on our aircraft carriers and can be bought in extra numbers by the navy  just like the Rafale can be . 

I say dump the Rafale in favour of the super hornet if the F 18 can be made in India !! 

---Ashdoc .

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

ashdoc wrote:This is a sorely tempting offer , at least to me . 

Yes , the Rafale is a more advanced aircraft . But we are going to get only 36 of them at a very huge amount of money . And that is just not enough numbers !! 

The F 18 is less advanced , in fact one generation behind the Rafale . But if it is made in India with cheap Indian labour , then it's already lower price will become even more lower . We will be able buy no less than 150 F 18s at the price of 36 Rafales . And at the moment we desperately need aircraft to fill up our squadrons , because the stealth fighterjet deal with Russia is close to collapse . 

The F 18 super hornet is enough to deal with Pakistan's F 16s and 150 F 18s will put up a better fight against China's Sukhois than 36 Rafales . China's own stealth program is not successful with their stealth fighter not having a satisfactory engine for stealth , so we don't have to worry about that . F 18 can also be used on our aircraft carriers and can be bought in extra numbers by the navy  just like the Rafale can be . 

I say dump the Rafale in favour of the super hornet if the F 18 can be made in India !! 

---Ashdoc .

I agree.  The hornets are still top of the line fighters. Also FA 18 can be configured for Naval version. It is still being used in the US and around the World.  Numbers do matter. If the GoI can get the entire F/A 18 - Engines, wings, electronics, and nuts and bolts, then it will be a much better deal. Otherwise the US will use it to checkmate India in any wars - that is the only concern given the history.

Vakavaka Pakapaka wrote:

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

ashdoc wrote:This is a sorely tempting offer , at least to me . 

Yes , the Rafale is a more advanced aircraft . But we are going to get only 36 of them at a very huge amount of money . And that is just not enough numbers !! 

The F 18 is less advanced , in fact one generation behind the Rafale . But if it is made in India with cheap Indian labour , then it's already lower price will become even more lower . We will be able buy no less than 150 F 18s at the price of 36 Rafales . And at the moment we desperately need aircraft to fill up our squadrons , because the stealth fighterjet deal with Russia is close to collapse . 

The F 18 super hornet is enough to deal with Pakistan's F 16s and 150 F 18s will put up a better fight against China's Sukhois than 36 Rafales . China's own stealth program is not successful with their stealth fighter not having a satisfactory engine for stealth , so we don't have to worry about that . F 18 can also be used on our aircraft carriers and can be bought in extra numbers by the navy  just like the Rafale can be . 

I say dump the Rafale in favour of the super hornet if the F 18 can be made in India !! 

---Ashdoc .

I agree.  The hornets are still top of the line fighters. Also FA 18 can be configured for Naval version. It is still being used in the US and around the World.  Numbers do matter. If the GoI can get the entire F/A 18 - Engines, wings, electronics, and nuts and bolts, then it will be a much better deal. Otherwise the US will use it to checkmate India in any wars - that is the only concern given the history.

Why not go for F22? It is not any more expensive than the Rafale. I don't, however, think that the US will agree to tech transfer on it.

ashdoc wrote:

Vakavaka Pakapaka wrote:

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

ashdoc wrote:This is a sorely tempting offer , at least to me . 

Yes , the Rafale is a more advanced aircraft . But we are going to get only 36 of them at a very huge amount of money . And that is just not enough numbers !! 

The F 18 is less advanced , in fact one generation behind the Rafale . But if it is made in India with cheap Indian labour , then it's already lower price will become even more lower . We will be able buy no less than 150 F 18s at the price of 36 Rafales . And at the moment we desperately need aircraft to fill up our squadrons , because the stealth fighterjet deal with Russia is close to collapse . 

The F 18 super hornet is enough to deal with Pakistan's F 16s and 150 F 18s will put up a better fight against China's Sukhois than 36 Rafales . China's own stealth program is not successful with their stealth fighter not having a satisfactory engine for stealth , so we don't have to worry about that . F 18 can also be used on our aircraft carriers and can be bought in extra numbers by the navy  just like the Rafale can be . 

I say dump the Rafale in favour of the super hornet if the F 18 can be made in India !! 

---Ashdoc .

I agree.  The hornets are still top of the line fighters. Also FA 18 can be configured for Naval version. It is still being used in the US and around the World.  Numbers do matter. If the GoI can get the entire F/A 18 - Engines, wings, electronics, and nuts and bolts, then it will be a much better deal. Otherwise the US will use it to checkmate India in any wars - that is the only concern given the history.

Why not go for F22? It is not any more expensive than the Rafale. I don't, however, think that the US will agree to tech transfer on it.

f 22 costs 2 and a half times that of rafale . rafale costs 200 million dollars per aircraft while f 22 costs 500 million dollars . US is not willing to sell it at all . and even if it does , it will not agree to manufacture in india like it is ready for f 18 .