Here’s the unit cost of the top five 4+ generation fighter jets in the world
- Eurofighter Typhoon – 272 million dollars
- RAFALE – 108 million dollars
- F-16 – 80 million (without lifecycle costs)
- F-18E/F-55 million(without lifecycle costs)
- SAAB Gripen – 130 million dollars
INDIA MAY HAVE TO FORK OUT MORE FOR THE PROPOSED 110 FIGHTER JETS THAN EVER BEFORE
The Indian MoD’s plan to purchase 110 fighter jets may be its costliest fighter jet buy ever with the entire deal pegged at US$18 billion despite 85% of the aircraft being manufactured in India.
With the date for response to the Request for information (RFI) drawing near, several foreign aircraft suppliers are gearing up to participate in the estimated $20 billion program, billed as one of the biggest in the world and the costliest fighter jet purchase in India.
In comparison, when India floated the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) proposal in 2007, the price for 126 aircraft with a complement of weapons was estimated at US$`12 billion. Costs had increased to US$20 billion in 2015 when the entire procurement was canceled. Subsequently, India directly negotiated with France to buy 36 Rafale jets.
However, all aircraft manufacturers have upgraded their technology and incorporated new systems such as radars and avionics which will naturally push up the cost.
Related Article: Top 25 Most Expensive Fighter Aircraft Price Comparison 3D Video
Even India’s home-grown Light Combat Aircraft manufactured by HAL has seen its price rise to $67.5 million per jet. HAL had quoted the price in response to a request for a proposal by the Defence Ministry to induct 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) into the Indian Air Force under the ‘Make in India’.
The RFI that was launched in April this year ends on July 6. The RFI sought information from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on the specifics of the aircraft for both single-engine and twin-engine fighter jets. According to the RFI, India intends to purchase a maximum of 15 percent of the 110 fighters in flyaway condition and manufacture the rest at 85 percent.
For the 15 percent off-the-shelf purchase, the prices of these aircraft will surely come at an international price. But for 85 percent of the aircraft to be made in India, the price would vary depending on infrastructure set-up in India, investment by its Indian Partner, offsets, and technology transfer. The total cost of the procurement could be between $18 billion to $20 billion.
The major contenders for the competition are likely to be American Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block 70, French Dassault Rafale, Swedish SAAB’s Gripen, Russian MiG-35, and Eurofighter Typhoon. The new aircraft are intended to replace the IAF’s MiG21 jets.
The unit prices for the fly-away aircraft exclude sunk costs such as research and development, supplementary costs such as support equipment, and future costs such as spares and maintenance.
The contenders are offering various price estimates for the project. Indian publication, Indian Express mentioned the offered unit estimated prices of the Saab Gripen as Rs 455 crore ($65 million), and Lockheed Martin F-16 for Rs 380 crore ($55.4 million) for manufacturing in India. However actual prices should depend on the requirements of the Request For Proposal (RFP) and the final price negotiated with the successful bidder.
Based on the recent deals of the competitor sales of fighter aircraft to their customers and their estimates are as follows:
Dassault Rafale:
Qatar in December 2017, signed a deal to buy 12 Rafale aircraft from Dassault in fly-away condition, with an option to buy additional 36 aircraft for $1.3 billion costing approximately $103 million each.
The Indian deal to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets in the $8 billion contract included the cost of Meteor, SCALP missiles from MBDA, spares and maintenance costs, and India-specific enhancements would come up to about $160 million each.
Eurofighter Typhoon:
In December 2017, Qatar agreed to buy 24 Eurofighter Typhoon fighters for an approximate $8 billion along with weapons that included MBDA-built Brimstone 2 ground-to-air and Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles as well as Raytheon’s Paveway IV precision-guided bombs and training package costing $272 million per aircraft.
Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70:
Lockheed Martin won a $ 1.1 billion Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract to supply 16 F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft, the newest generation of Fighting Falcon, to Bahrain on June 23, 2018. The contract will cost $70 million each without the associated weapons package.
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet:
In April this year, Boeing won a foreign military sales contract worth over $1.5 billion to supply 22 single-seat ‘E’ and six two-seat ‘F’ variants to the Kuwait Air Force costing $53.5 million each. The sale does not include any life cycle costs and weapon costs.
Saab Gripen:
The Brazilian MoD signed a $4.68 billion contract with Saab for the development and production of 28 single-seat and eight two-seat Gripen NG fighters with substantial technology transfer costing approximately $130 million for each aircraft.
Unit prices of the Russian MiG-35 are unknown as the fighter is pretty new and has no export customers apart from the Russian Armed Forces.
(Source: DefenseWorld.Net)
