Congratulations to Dassault!!! 10.4 billion Indian Air Force Rafale contract!

[Jaws2002]

I think they made the right decision. It's prbabily easier to work with France when it comes to technology import. They'll build about a hundred of them locally, in India and probabily they have rights to all the tech that goes into it.
The Rafale is also much more suited for ground support than Eurofighter and it's carrier capable. They already have very positive experience with Dassault aircraft, so I think in the end, they made the right decision.

And the mandatory cool Rafale shot.

[Ploughman]

Originally Posted by Jaws2002

Wow, looking at the seams on the fuselage that ship looks quite worn out. The wings and the canards are very tight looking, but the main body of the fighter doesn't seem to benefit from the same production values. Perhaps it's the angle of light being unkind, but that doesn't look like a 4.5 fighter.

[WTE_Galway]

Of course if the ongoing squabble with Pakistan escalates you may see the new generation of Dassault products taking on the PAF's aging but operational 150 odd Dassault Mirage III's (ex Aussie RAAF I believe) and Mirage V's.