India HAL Tejas Program

[Rajendra Chola]

This is unlikely to happen. At best, it'd be a couple of more squadrons of Rafales for IAF along with 36 Rafale-Ms' for IN

If you obtained this price from the recent report of 97 Mk-1As' costing $7.8B, that isn't the unit cost since it potentially includes long term maintenance and spares contracts, set up of required facilities, weapons etc

It costed IAF around $40-45m per jet for Mk-1 and I assume the Mk-1As' should cost an additional ~$10m

https://asiatimes.com/2024/04/indias-tejas-vs-pakistans-jf-17-in-low-cost-fighter-showdown/#

Moves in the last few days may make it possible to happen. India has realized US will provide us no support in event of war, and that they have to maintain minimum credible defence, forget offense. It’s possible, they may move forward with 114 & somehow find a way to fund Mk2, AMCA , Ghatak UCAV & possibly TEDBF (not approved yet).

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1902163978043978135

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1901741940967878981

 

[Zapper]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1902163978043978135

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1901741940967878981

They've come a long way in terms of LCA's build quality

 

[Spitfire9]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1899072440438829497

An engine deal should be done this year.

How many times have I heard that sort of thing? Such and such will be done before such and such date. The date arrives without it having been done and without comment. I do wonder whether acknowledging failure is too much to stomach so it is hidden/forgotten only to be repeated again and again.