Su30 MKI price

[MilSpec]

Reading Ajay Shukla's Blog, one of the interesting parts that I noticed was the price at which HAL sells it's MKI to the IAF.

"HAL’s overhaul facility chief, S Subrahmanyan, told Business Standard in October 2014 that overhauling the Su-30MKI in India cost roughly one-third the price of a brand new fighter. HAL is currently supplying the fighter to the IAF at Rs 358 crore; HAL sources say overhauling a Su-30MKI costs Rs 110 crore."

Rs 358 Crore translates to 57.65 Million Dollar for each aircraft excluding the life cycle. Now 57.65 million dollars with the Overhaul costing 17 million USD, still seems to be a bargain compared to the MMRCA. By putting this price in perspective, it is apparent why the rafale bill seems so steep where the fly away cost is touching 100 million +.

Broadsword

@sancho, @Dillinger

 

[Indian Patriot]

Rafale is needed for different types of missions. Having one type of aircraft do all sorts of missions is nota good idea. If the MRCA deal was finalised years ago India would have been fielding all 126 aircraft today. Ten years since the contract started and still the deal has not been finalised.

 

[rockstarIN]

Rafale is needed for different types of missions. Having one type of aircraft do all sorts of missions is nota good idea. If the MRCA deal was finalised years ago India would have been fielding all 126 aircraft today. Ten years since the contract started and still the deal has not been finalised.

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)

 

[Indian Patriot]

Having one aircraft do everything from air defence, air superiority, strike missions, recce is NOT a good idea. The Rafale will probably be used for air superiority while the MKI is used for strike missions.

 

[salarsikander]

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

 

[Indo-guy]

Reading Ajay Shukla's Blog, one of the interesting parts that I noticed was the price at which HAL sells it's MKI to the IAF.

"HAL’s overhaul facility chief, S Subrahmanyan, told Business Standard in October 2014 that overhauling the Su-30MKI in India cost roughly one-third the price of a brand new fighter. HAL is currently supplying the fighter to the IAF at Rs 358 crore; HAL sources say overhauling a Su-30MKI costs Rs 110 crore."

Rs 358 Crore translates to 57.65 Million Dollar for each aircraft excluding the life cycle. Now 57.65 million dollars with the Overhaul costing 17 million USD, still seems to be a bargain compared to the MMRCA. By putting this price in perspective, it is apparent why the rafale bill seems so steep where the fly away cost is touching 100 million +.

Broadsword

@sancho, @Dillinger

we don't even know what is going to be the exact final price of Rafale .

It ranges from 90 million - 110 million per piece based on the variety of sources ....

It does look way costlier as compared to MKI

but I am sure @Abingdonboy is not going to agree ...

If we are not going to get price that was quoted in RFP and TOT that was promised ....and the final product guarantee that is still being haggled out ...I see no reason to go for such an exorbitantly overpriced fighter ...

 

[MilSpec]

Having one aircraft do everything from air defence, air superiority, strike missions, recce is NOT a good idea. The Rafale will probably be used for air superiority while the MKI is used for strike missions.

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.

 

[Echo_419]

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.

Agreed we should not let the French loot us the price they are demanding is outrageously high

 

[C130]

Agreed we should not let the French loot us the price they are demanding is outrageously high

you are paying a premium no doubt.
but half of the cost is being reinvested in Indians defense sector
and you can't deny the Rafale outstanding performance.

you might just have to suck it up and take the high cost hit.
maybe in a decade from now you'll say it was worth it.

 

[cerberus]

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)

No Rafale is Complete Multi-Role Fighter Whereas MkI Superiority Fighter.Rafale has Many Advantages Such As Low RCS and Element of Stealth with it Spectra EW Suits .As for The Money Country of Where Scams Are Common.Spending 110-120 Million on Top Notch Fighters is Worth It.

 

[Khalid Newazi]

The Su-30MKI is an air superiority fighter jet whereas the Rafale offered to the Indians is a Naval version and can be launched from aircraft carriers.

 

[notsuperstitious]

The single biggest deal breaker for more MKI is dependency on one country. Infact its such a big issue, given the potentially unprecedented changes in geopolitics, that rest everything, while great defence knowledge, is moot.

 

[Echo_419]

you are paying a premium no doubt.
but half of the cost is being reinvested in Indians defense sector
and you can't deny the Rafale outstanding performance.

you might just have to suck it up and take the high cost hit.
maybe in a decade from now you'll say it was worth it.

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

 

[Iggy]

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..

 

[Providence]

We have a 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.