User blog:WarKnight 1/Aviation News Number 2: The Rafale wins big in India

Alright then... Not long ago, in a part of the world not far enough away... Wait, what? Oh, in April of 2011 India was planning to replace the ancient screaming metal death trap known as the MiG-21 Fishbed by purchasing 126 new top of the line fighters for its Air Force. Six contenders were chosen for this amazing race without actually racing... These were the Saab JAS-39 Gripen NG, the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-35 Fulcrum-F (an improved variant of the MiG-29), the Lockheed Martin F-16IN Super Viper (an upgraded F-16E/F), the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the Eurofighter Typhoon, and the Dassault Rafale (its name literally means Squall). When Aero India began all of the contenders appeared to win big in India. The Gripen was eliminated probably due to the fact that the test gripens had some engine problems and the fact that India does not have Swedish Aircraft in its current inventory. The Super Hornet and Super Viper were eliminated mainly due to the fact that India protested against the US because they sold some new aircraft to the crazy asses who are right on their border (*cough*Paki*cough*stan*). The MiG-35 was eliminated mainly due to the fact that India already has the Su-30MKI Hindu Flanker and is preparing to buy the MiG-29K Sea Fulcrum for its new carriers which would cause India to rely on Russian Aircraft alone. The Two that were shortlisted was the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Dassault Rafale. The Rafale and Typhoon were tested to their limits each had their own advantage. The Rafale being Made by France had the advantage because India had the tendency to buy French made planes and/or avionics, while the Typhoon had beaten India's Flankers in a Red Flag exercises and the Indian pilots said they were 'impressed' on the agility of the Eurofighter. Both were battlehardend veterans in the skies over Libya...

The Dassault Rafale had never won a single export order, and was the only western fighter not to do so until today... The Dassault Rafale is the winner MRCA due to its commonality with India's current Mirage 2000H fighters and familiarity with the controls. As an American Aviation enthusiast I gotta say I was rooting for the Rafale to win from the get go... The plane seemed to be the perfect choice over the other contenders since the start of the MRCA. The MRCA is a boost for the Rafale as Dassault has wanted to export its plane to places like Brazil who have had a history for buying french airplanes, and since Brazil is the only South American Nation that has an aircraft carrier it makes its chances more likely. Although India will have its carrier soon it uses the STOBAR (Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery) configuration like the Admiral Kuznetsov, rather than the CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take Off But Arrested Recovery) like the US Navy carriers which planes like the Rafale M is adapted too. To all who read this blog who are French or of French descent congradulations. Now on to South Korea... All squadrons... LAUNCH!