WHY RAFALE

Lets see what were India's other alternatives

America's F-16 super viper F/A-18 super hornet

Swedish SAAB Gripen

The Eurofighter Typhoon

The Dasault Rafale

The Russia Mikoyan MiG35

What Indian air force needs is MMRCA , india ruled out F-16 , Gripen because Indian air force doesn't need single engine jets

About F/A-18 i would say that , one of the best jets in the world . Is twin engine . So why didn't Indian air force consider it ? BVR ( Beyond Visual Range ) radar technology . It cannot compete the Eurofighter , and rafale in that matter . And many other fields

Next up , MiG35 ! new bird in the sky . But it is based on the old MIG29 which we all ready have . MiG29 is , was never as impressive as our pride SU30MKI . Who takes a step back ? Not atleast Indians . However new media reports suggest that india still may buy MiG35 or Su35s( 5th gen jointly being developed) ( I wish india should but SU35s , really awsm jet )

Whats left is Typhoon and Rafale .

Both Eurofighter and Rafale are 4.5-generation twin-engined fighters with delta wings and are mostly made up of carbon fibre composites, which make the fighter light and increase fuel efficiency.

In power game, Rafale’s engine has dry thrust of 50kN, whereas Eurofighter’s is a notch higher (69kN). Eurofighter has a mechanically steered pulse doppler radar called CAPTOR whereas Rafale has a PESA radar which is completely automated and technologically superior to the European fighter’s. Rafale’s radar is able to track up to 40 aircraft and can engage eight of them.

Rafale is an ‘omni-fighter’ as it could be tasked for suppression of enemy air defences, recce and deep strike missions. Eurofighter is the best in air-to-air combat but has limited air-to-ground combat capabilities.

Rafale can be used as an aircraft carrier-based fighter and has a nuclear strike role like Sukhois whereas Eurofighter’s naval version is still in development stage. Rafale has the advantage of being logistically and operationally similar to Mirage 2000, which the IAF already operates. This would require fewer changes in the existing infrastructure of the IAF, which, in turn, will reduce cost. If India had opted for Eurofighter, it would have been a totally new edition in the IAF fleet, compelling the force to build new infrastructure and start a series of training for its pilots to familiarize them with a new technology.

Being 100% French, Rafale provides Dassault a distinct edge over its competitors on the issue of technology transfer. In the case of Eurofighter, India would have to deal with four countries (UK, Germany, Italy and Spain) for sorting out even a minor issue related to acquisition or technology transfer. Last but not the least, Rafale with $84.48 million price tag (2009 figures) is cheaper than Eurofighter ($108 million).

Rafale, a medium multi-role combat aircraft, will easily fill the gap between India’s high-end Sukhois and low-end Tejas aircraft and can protect our borders till the time India’s fifth-generation fighter, being jointly developed with Russia, becomes a reality. Thus, the IAF’s decision is a safe bet.