India Air-Force Indian Air Force General Archive

Nilgiri · Mar 23, 2021

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1374068771065892864

Nilgiri · Mar 23, 2021

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1373430912461979654

Nilgiri · Mar 25, 2021

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1372525304392994816

Nilgiri · Apr 1, 2021

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1377313054912745472

Indos · Apr 1, 2021

Nilgiri said:
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1377313054912745472

Is there any plan to add more Rafale ??

Nilgiri · Apr 1, 2021

Indos said:
Is there any plan to add more Rafale ??

As of now it is at 36.

Plans/ambitions to add more are always there....but nothing official has been said yet.

Hopefully we do get more....I think we need at least 10 squadrons to be in good position....but at least 6 squadrons are needed imo.

Zapper · Apr 1, 2021

Indos said:
Is there any plan to add more Rafale ??

The timeline to negotiate a new contract with Dassault and to receive the first aircraft will likely coincide with the MWF. Single vs Twin engine isn't really applicable in this scenario since F-16 is also a contender for MMRCA contest...all IAF needs is a mid sized fighter which the MWF fulfills.

Vergennes · Apr 2, 2021

Nilgiri said:
As of now it is at 36.

Plans/ambitions to add more are always there....but nothing official has been said yet.

Hopefully we do get more....I think we need at least 10 squadrons to be in good position....but at least 6 squadrons are needed imo.

Quite sad to see how much time has been lost in the decision making concerning the Rafale,had things settled much earlier the Rafale would have been operational in the IAF since years ago already and in good numbers to replace many legacy fighters in the IAF's inventory.

Nilgiri · Apr 2, 2021

Vergennes said:
Quite sad to see how much time has been lost in the decision making concerning the Rafale,had things settled much earlier the Rafale would have been operational in the IAF since years ago already and in good numbers to replace many legacy fighters in the IAF's inventory.

Delayed+extended fiscal consequence from the 2010 decade in general.....a lot of economic potential was not realised w.r.t how things were going in 2000 - 2010 (i.e 2008 economic crisis)....so this has especially taken its toll on scope for military foreign acquisitions.

But at least strong partnership has been made with France in larger ecosystems concerned in the interim.