Thursday 9 August 2018

The Indian Rafale’s Part 2 – The Unique One


A lot of controversy has arisen on the price tag of the Indian Rafale's. While not wishing to indulge in mudslinging to the detriment to national security it is pertinent to look at some of the IAF specific requirements which has inadvertently lead to the increase in the Rafale's cost.
The IAF Rafales would be the F3R+ versions with the following India unique features, most of which are of Israeli origin and design.
1.       Rafael's LITENING G4 target acquisition/designation pod instead of the Damocles designation pod which is the standard targeting cum acquisition pod for the Rafale.
2.       Elbit's Targo II HMDS  instead of the Sextant Avionique developed TopSight
3.       Rafael's Spice-1000 standoff PGM and its related data-link, in addition to DRDO developed standoff precision ground to air ammunition under development.
4.       Quad-pack ejectors for SAAW EMP-emitting standoff DEW PGM.
5.       Optimisation of the M88 turbofan’s jet-fuel starter for operating in sub-zero temperatures at altitudes above 3000 Meters. Specifically to take off from Leh/Ladhak and the North East keeping in mind the twin PAF and PLAAF threats.
6.       Enhanced SPECTRA EW suite to accommodate low-band, medium-band and high-band directional jammer apertures.
7.       Towed Decoy system, most likely being the Rafael’s X-Guard.
8.       Increased capacity of on board OBOGS, this to ensure more long ranged mission, allowing the fighters to take off from deep within India for strikes across the borders.
In addition there is speculations that the IAF Rafales could also mount the Indian Astra missile and the Bramhos NG although integration and flight testing of these 2 missiles could take considerable time, effort and money which with the shrinking defence budget is unlikely.
(Defence budget as a % of GDP is at the lowest since the 1962 war with the Peoples Republic of China)

The 36 Rafales ,28 single seaters and 8 twin seaters would equip 2 squadrons of the IAF and would be based out of Ambala in the North West  and Hasimara in the North East , this to act if required against both China and Pakistan. What is not highlighted is the capital cost incurred to build the base infrastructure to house the Rafales. Additionally the state of the art training facilities which would be part of the base infrastructure is generations ahead of what the IAF pilots have been exposed to for fighter planes.

The training modules in Ambala and Hasimara would be connected to each other and to Gwalior, the home for the upgraded Mirage 2000 I fleet and more importantly the cradle of IAF fighter tactics and weapons development the TACDE (Tactical and Air Combat development Establishment) where future generation of India’s top guns are born.
One of the stand out features of the agreement is the 75% PBL clause which has been mentioned in Part 1 of our feature. Maintenance crews along with the fighter pilots would be trained in France before the fighters are officially inducted into the IAF. The Microsoft HoloLens-based virtual/augmented reality hands-on documentation and training system (HADOC) is also being touted to be part of the overall package negotiated in the Government to Government deal.

To be continued


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