Forum: Modern Military Aircraft

This is a huge setback for Eurofighter. Rafale and F-15 are again head-to head for a second time after their last clash in South Korea. If Rafale loses again than it's fate is sealed for good. Any idea about the prices of these fighters?

F-16.net Sponsor

Last edited by toan on Apr 26, 2005 - 06:39 AM; edited 1 time in total

In 2001, the price of the competitors of South Korea's F-X fighter project (including the costs for weapons, training, and logistics):

EF-2000: more than 120 million USDs per fighter
F-15K: 110 ~ 120 million USDs per fighter (The final winner)
Rafale: 100 ~ 110 million USDs per fighter
Su-35: 81 ~ 85 million USDs per fighter

The original plan of South Korea was 80 million USDs per fighter, but all of the competitors exceeded this price. The Su-35 was the cheapest one, but the South Korean AF's evaluation for it was also the worst one, so it was the first plane to be kicked out of the plan.

The EF-2000 was the most expensive one, and although it may have the best capability for air-combat, it won't have enough striking capability until 2008~2010 according to the time-schedule of the plan. The South Korea AF wanted a long range striker, not an expensive interceptor with only limited striking capability (LGB, JDAM) until 2010, so it was kicked out of the plan next to Su-35.

The Rafale was more advancing and cheaper than F-15K, and the South Korean AF's evaluation for Rafale was also better than F-15K. However, the score difference between the two fighters was less than 3%, and the USA has much more political, economical, and military influences on South Korea than the France has. Therefore, the F-15K of Boeing became the final winner.

For the same kind of reason, I think the F-15T of Boeing will also win the competition this time.

Hi Toan,
Thanks for your reply..I think this time F-15's advantage may even be graeter than in 2001 simply because of the $/€ parity ..since 2001 the greenback lost nearly 30% against the € which gives Boeing a huge advantage..

I agree with Toan. The F 15 has a great chance of getting the deal, and personally the Su 35 is also a great competitor. The 35 is cheap, crazy mauneverable, reliable, and capable with great electronics. Interesting to see the outcome. Dropping the Eurofighter was a good choice in my view.

ACSheva

ACSheva wrote:

I agree with Toan. The F 15 has a great chance of getting the deal, and personally the Su 35 is also a great competitor. The 35 is cheap, crazy mauneverable, reliable, and capable with great electronics. Interesting to see the outcome. Dropping the Eurofighter was a good choice in my view.

Shev,the -35 dropped out ages [Link pending approval] is only the 15 and the Rafale in the race [Link pending approval]

The Typhoon is probably the best fighter out of all of them, It's just the most expensive one.

Why wasn't the Viper one of South Korea's choices? Confused

It probably would have been more cost efficient than the other aircraft..

F-16 is cheap, but it is not efficient for the requirements of Southern Korean AF and Royal Singaporian AF. Both of the air-forces need a strike fighter with very long range striking capability (Taking Southern Korean AF for example, the main requirement for its F-X fighter plan was: a striking fighter of 1,850 km-class maximal combat radius with the help of CFTs) and the air-combat capability that are comparable to their potential foes' NG fighters (Su-30MKK, Su-30MKM, Su-27SKM, J-10, J-11, F-15J/DJ, F-2A/B) at least. They thought F-16, even the F-16E/F Block60/62 with CFTs, wouldn't fit their requirements and kicked F-16 out at the early phase of thier F-X fighter plans.

Forum: Modern Military Aircraft

Singapore drops Eurofighter