And the I told you so is all ready to go, if it happens.

 

H.

 

Cheers .

Switzerland, Dassault strikes back

The Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung reveals today that Dassault Aviation has made a new offer to Switzerland for 18 Rafale on January 19, 2012. 

The price would be CHF 2.7 billions (€2.2 billions) some CHF 400 millions (€331.7 millions) cheaper than the 22 Gripen offered by Sweeden.

With this offer, each Rafale would be only 6 % more expensive than a Gripen, which is a real bargain considering the additionnal capabilities of the French fighter (range, load):

• Gripen offer : CHF 3.1 billions for 22 jets or CHF 141 millions per aircraft
• Rafale offer : CHF 2.7 billions for 18 jets or CHF 150 millions per aircraft

Indeed, Dassault claims that a fleet of 18 Rafale has equivalent efficiency as 22 Gripen, a fact confirmed by a high ranked officer of the Swiss army interviewed by the Newspaper, who states that 3 Rafale/Eurofighters were able to fulfill the same missions as 5 Gripen. Besides, SonntagsZeitung reports that the French offer would also includes unlimited access to French Air Bases, as well as the possibility to use French simulators, training areas ower the Mediterranean sea and French logistic during international exercises.

Le Matin Newspaper reports that the new French offer will be for a Rafale with the same avionic/sensor suite, air defense capabilities and offset package but with fewer Air to Ground options (No pylons for heavy bombs for example) in order to better match Switzerland needs. Moreover, access to Helios reconnaissance satellite and French AWACS data would also be in the package.

On Tuesday January 24, The Security committee of the National council had decided to check that the selection procedure was devoid of any irregularities or cheating after they received a letter signed by a mysterious "groupe pour une armee credible et integre" (Group for an honest and credible army) revealing that several parameters of the evaluation would have been changed in order to favor the Gripen (some even claim that without those "corrections" the Gripen wouldn't have passed some of the minimum thresholds set by the Air Force). Eventually, the informations leaked by the letter were juged serious enough by the security committee  to ask for an investigation.

Followed in the discussion thread by :

 

GAME OVER about swiss tech eval

I guess it is because swiss pilots and engineers are far less competents then some web experts ;)

And to rejoice our famous french basher, Rafale just won indian contest vs EFA (after early elimination of F18, F16)

Wonder where they are now. Probably busy telling convincing themselves that they can't be wrong. 

Eh, hold your horses until the end of March.

http://defenceforumindia.com/i...

http://defenceforumindia.com/i...

 

Granted, sides in such discussions are quick to raise concerns about corruption when theirs don't win, but in this case there is substance. Also keep in mind allegations in 2009 and unsourced rumours of it dropped over specs, the Brazilian package deal, the UAE refusing it on specs, etc.

 

However, if the victory is confirmed, then congratulations. Regardless of whether it is a good plane or not this is good news for France and will rescue Dassault. 

Hmmm, looks like it is definitely going through.

 

I really don't understand the Indian procurement process, this isn't the first time they've made an unorthodox choice. It's too bad Pakistani pilot and overall military quality isn't more equal, then we'd get a reliable result the next time they fight.

 

Maybe it is more of an adequate than a mediocre aircraft as I thought.

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes...

 

This is suspicious however, it is expensive both by unit and by maintainance.

 

Anyway, this is either a tale of corruption and incompetence or a fighter miraculously getting its first sale (and a massive one) more than ten years after it went on the market.

 

What I'm sure about however is that as I know next to nothing about aircraft I am sure the two of you know very little. There are however posters on this site with considerable technical knowledge and industry connections who predicted the failure and poor reputation of the Rafale to sell more than ten years ago (who were yelled at, at the time), but they've never said it was a terrible plane (which I have), but such descriptions as 'bomb truck' and 'mediocre' were frequently made.

 

Anyway it'd be good to hear from those who think the Rafale is an 'ok' plane and those who think it's a 'bomb truck', because frankly, I don't care enough to learn enough about these planes to make a proper judgement of why it won (maybe it is an ok plane now or maybe it's corruption) and the two above are clearly fanboys.

Anyway, a last observation... just from a glance at Pakistani defense forums they seem quite happy about India's choice, as do our Chinese ones.

 

I wouldn't consider myself a neutral party, but I think my fellow Chinese and the Pakistani are very neutral in this matter.