Difference of opinion here.
IAF needed Rafale not to fight a capable opponent but a fighter aircraft capable of going on multi-role missions. Su-30 with upgrades can easily fit the bill.
It can't since the upgrades are only ways to reduce shortfalls, like the RCS for example, but it can't equal all technical advantages the Rafale will offer. Especially since PLAAF has similar Flanker versions (latest also will have AESA, IRST, Russian weapons...), Rafale will offer way more advantages countering them and in the offensive strike fields, than the MKI could. A very low RCS, passive detection capabilities, MICA/Meteor combo, AASM/Scalp will offer IAF excellent modern capabilities, while the Super 30 will complement the Rafale in these roles.
On the other hand there is no option other than Akula. Not to forget the immense help the whole package has provided for development of Arihanth class SSBN.. Without Akula submarine, it would have been impossible to train crews of IN to operate a nuclear sub.
The Akula has no bearing for Arihant development (the older nuke sub that we leased in the past had), only to train it's crews, but even that hardly makes the cost of $500 millions worth it. Sending crews to Russia and train them their, as we do now anyway, would be way cheaper.
BTW the Kaveri-Snecma deal has gone for a toss. This just shows the kind of confidence GTRE has on the ToT coming from this deal. Same will be the fate of ToT on Radar.
Even if it is another Ajay Shukla article, the quoted parts from GTRE officials itself confirms that they badly need a foreign partner to go on with Kaveri engine and can't do it alone. If the report is correct, it only shows that they want to put more pressure on the French to provide more techs or to reduce the price, we have seen the same in MMRCA itself, or the redesign of Shakti engine for HALs LUH.
The sad point is, that it once again shows how badly managed Indian projects are, since this could have been done from the start of LCA, or at least when they evaluated new engines for LCA MK2.
Bottom line is, we need to improve our operational and industrial capabilities, that's why licence productions like Rafale, LUH, the coming prop aircraft for IAF, or the P75I for IN, next to jointed developments like Brahmos, Barak 8, FGFA and MTA are crucial procurements and most important for India!
Do you have answer to the question raised by Ajay Shukla
???... Even I can see HAL's answer is not Satisfactory at all..
I find it surprising that HAL had even reacted at all, especially since he often proved that he has limited knowledge of the aero field.