Aviation

Price Quoted by Dassault for the Rafale marine Fighter Jet in India

The Rafale aircraft is among the most sought-after jets in Europe and Asia, with many countries eager to acquire it due to its proven success on the battlefield.

India is currently negotiating to purchase this fighter jet at a competitive price. In the Indian defense procurement tender, the Rafale Marine jet outperformed the American-built F-18 aircraft. The capabilities of India’s aircraft carrier align well with those of the Rafale fighter jet.

However, there were some concerns as the aircraft originally came with a single-seat cockpit. Sources indicate that the Rafale team is willing to address this issue by offering a two-seat cockpit option. Following these discussions, India has agreed to proceed with the purchase.

The French offer includes packages for integrating Indian weapons into the fighter, such as the Astra air-to-air missile, along with India-specific enhancements and landing gear tailored for operations from aircraft carriers.

During trials, the French side demonstrated the Rafale’s landing and take-off capabilities from Indian aircraft carriers, although some additional equipment will be required for real-time operations.

The Price of the Rafale Fighter Jet

The naval version of the Rafale fighter jet is priced higher than the ground-based variant due to necessary modifications and technological challenges. Previously, France sold 42 Rafale fighter jets for $5.5 billion, averaging around $130 million each.

In July, during negotiations, France offered India 26 Rafale fighter jets for $5.9 billion, equivalent to approximately ₹50,000 crore. This pricing suggests an average cost of around $220 million per jet, which includes all the promised packages.

India is firm in its negotiations, intending to use the previous deal for 36 Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force as a baseline for the naval deal. This price will account for inflation costs agreed upon in the prior agreement.

Naval twin-engine jets typically cost more than their counterparts used by air forces worldwide, as they require additional capabilities for operations at sea, including specialized landing gear for arrested landings on aircraft carriers.

Total Backlog of Rafale Fighter Jets

The latest contract has raised the total number of Rafale jets ordered by France to 234, which includes a special order made in 2021 for 12 fighters to replace aircraft transferred to Greece.

The current standards emphasize connectivity and feature MBDA’s Mica medium-range air-to-air missile, along with an upgrade of the Spectra self-defense system developed by Thales. The fighter is powered by Safran’s M88 afterburning turbofan engine.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the jets will undergo upgrades to the F5 standard in the 2030s. The Senate has urged Dassault Aviation to begin work on this upgrade—potentially including a loyal wingman UAV based on the European nEUROn combat drone program—by as early as 2024, amid uncertainty regarding the Future Combat Air System.

As of 2023, Dassault Aviation has produced a total of 259 fighter jets and reported a steady increase in its Rafale order book. The company currently has a backlog of 223 Rafale aircraft, a 12-unit increase from the previous year. This strong order pipeline comprises 159 jets intended for export markets and 64 for the French Air and Space Force, indicating high demand for the future.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.