Interessante articolo di IHS Janes sulla decisione incombente da parte Indiana sui Rafale e/o T-50:
Air Platforms
Analysis: India faces crunch decision over Rafale, PAK-FA
Reuben F Johnson, Kiev - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
08 April 2015
New Delhi faces a series of decisions on fast jet procurements that will determine the future direction and capabilities of the Indian Air Force's (IAF's) combat aircraft fleet.
At the heart of the matter is the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme - for which France's Dassault Rafale was down-selected in January 2012 - and Russia's Sukhoi T-50/PAK-FA fifth-generation fighter.
The central difficulty is what analysts in India described to IHS Jane's as a "massive disconnect between the Ministry of Defence [MoD], the IAF, and the political community in India who have to contend with larger diplomatic and industrial issues" on what the future IAF should look like.
At the centre of this conflict are those in favour of the Rafale and those who would instead place funds earmarked for that procurement into the development of a version of the T-50/PAK-FA, known in India as the Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA).
For New Delhi, the issue is that "the money does not exist to have both the Rafale and T-50 programmes and, if you choose one over the other, you are making decisions that have long-ranging effects", an Indian analyst told IHS Jane's .
"If you put your resources into the T-50, then the IAF becomes an almost all-Russian fleet, and you are betting your future force structure on an aeroplane that is almost solely on paper at present. If you decide to go with the Rafale, then you are forgetting about having a fifth-generation aeroplane, but at least you know everything on this platform exists and works pretty much as advertised," he added.
The Rafale's fortunes are helped by what is regarded as a growing pro-Western shift within the IAF. The combined experience of working with the United States on programmes like the Boeing C-17 and Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 and Dassault aircraft such as the Mirage 2000 has led IAF officers to embrace the Western model for running and supporting programmes over the Russian style of doing business.
"Many in the IAF do not like the way the Russians work with them," said one Indian specialist. "The Russians treat Indians like they are children and the IAF officials with the gold braid on their caps are used to being treated with excessive deference and the Russians do not do that."
At the same time, however, the shift in the preference for Western aircraft within the IAF does not translate into a future market for a US-made fighter. The IAF is happy to have US-made transports and other platforms, but is not inclined to purchase a US aircraft for frontline combat requirements.
"There are still plenty of those within the armed forces who remember what happened in 1998 when sanctions were slapped on India by the US over its nuclear programme," said the Indian specialist. "Until all of those who were in the armed forces at that time are retired and gone there will be no major acquisitions of something like a [Lockheed Martin] F-35."
Analysis: India faces crunch decision over Rafale, PAK-FA - IHS Jane's 360
In relazione ad esso, veidamo che durante la vistia di Modi in Francia, e' stato siglato un accordo intragovernativo per 36 Rafale:
After holding bilateral talks with Hollande at the historic Elysee Palace, Modi said, “I have spoken to him and requested for 36 Rafale jets in fly-away condition as quickly as possible under a government-to-government deal.”
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/for-modi-36-ready-to-fly-rafale-jets-wrapped-in-paris-red-carpet/