Rafale in Switzerland, why it gets stuck
DSI , dec 1
The failure of the Rafale in Switzerland raises many questions. I talked to Joseph Henrotin, revered editor of DSI and expert on air strategy and, more generally, the relationship between technology and strategy.Rafale crashed in Switzerland. Clearly, Rafale beat its competitors in the evaluation, but was not cheap . The price determines everything ?
[...] Indeed, technically speaking, the aircraft was ahead of its competitors and in general, the Rafale is an excellent fighter. [...] But the technical merit is not all. The price factor is also involved, especially when the Western states, including Switzerland, are through an unprecedented crisis.
In a context where Switzerland has no enemies on its borders, It could be difficult to politically legitimate and justify considerable costs in the eyes of the population, even certainly committed to the spirit of defense (probably more than anywhere else in Western Europe) . Moreover, the structure of these costs is not yet known: certainly, there is the one of the purchase. But there are the rest (MCO, ammunition, packages offered, the implications of local industries, etc..) And, at present we do not know much about the offer and its overall costs. But perhaps the Swedes are very strong in this game.
Other factors also come into play. The Rafale would replace the F-5. In the Swiss doctrine, the Tiger must be "dispersible" and able to operate from RHA (road sections used as emergency airfields). The aircraft [Gripen] is versatile and lightweight - it meets the spirit of technological and strategic cultures in Switzerland. Comparatively, the Rafale is certainly versatile, but is neither heavy nor light . Also some members of the Swiss Army saw the aircraft as belonging to an "overkill" for too many missions to complete.
There remains the question of marking policy, too. The Rafale is the aircraft of the war in Libya. From what I know of some Swiss "decisionmakers" sees the aircraft as very "offensive".
I do not think, given the discussions I had with the Swiss military, that this feeling has been shared by them. By cons, it could be the case with some decisionmakers ... At this stage it is in any case too early to draw any lessons from this case.
In fact. Rafale has difficultiles like the French industry, in general, with the sentence: we are of course the fourth exporter in the world, but far from the first three and a fifth on our heels. Do we have a problem?
From a technical point of view, no, our equipment is good - although sometimes they are so good and they are too expensive. However, this remark does not apply in the field of combat aircraft, rather in the field of ammunition.
Ok. Why it gets stuck then?
[...]the issue is very complex. That said, I will give some tips to a hypothetical graduate student.
- First, we consider our exports with the eye of the engineer: for us the case is first technical, while technic has only a minor role in purchase decisions of equipment. We are not on the same level as the customer.
- Two, exporting is a trade issue. You have to be agile, lightweight, fast, imaginative and lethal to competitors. Whatever the field, it is the only business formula that works. But I feel that we're not.
Just an anecdote, but it seems to me very indicative. At DSI, from time to time , we interview industrialists. It can be important because it could allow a military or political customer, to understand the motivations, the foundations, the possibilities of a project outside of direct channels of communication specific to negotiations. But this year I had eight refusals from French companies [..] . I do not give names, I accuse no one, I'm just trying to understand. But in six years of publications, I have never had a refusal or delay by a foreign manufacturer ...
- Three, exporting armament is a military matter and strategic studies are not an intellectual luxury. How do you sell something to someone if you do not know his intellectual references, its strategic culture or, more basically still, his habits of negotiation? Yet it is the royal road to "customer oriented".
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Reply With QuoteOriginally Posted by Giblets
, people seem to have the idea that Gripen is a substandard jet, when in fact, it is very good. It's just slightly inferior compared to Rafale/Typhoon.
makes her a hot ship!
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