SOURCE: AFI
In a significant enhancement to its aerial capabilities, the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) finalized a deal on Wednesday to acquire 25 next-generation F-15 fighter jets from Boeing at a total cost of $5.2 billion. This acquisition marks Israel’s commitment to bolstering its air combat fleet with state-of-the-art technology and greater firepower. The contract includes modernized versions of the F-15, equipped with advanced avionics, sensors, and weapons systems to meet Israel’s evolving defense needs.
This article will break down the per-unit cost of the F-15 aircraft in this deal, analyze potential pricing for the Indian Air Force (IAF) if a similar acquisition were made under India’s Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender, and compare it with the cost of the Dassault Rafale, which has been a leading contender in India’s fleet modernization plan.
Per-Unit Cost of F-15 in Israel’s Acquisition
Thus, each F-15 aircraft under this contract costs Israel approximately $208 million. This amount likely includes associated infrastructure, logistics, spares, maintenance, and training.
Comparison with Dassault Rafale Cost in the MRFA Tender Context
The IAF’s MRFA tender seeks to procure 114 multi-role fighter aircraft to boost its fighter strength and replace aging platforms. The Dassault Rafale has been considered a top candidate for this procurement, with India already inducting 36 Rafale jets under a separate agreement at a cost of €7.8 billion (about $8.5 billion USD at the time of the deal).
Cost Breakdown of Rafale Jets for India
The cost of the 36 Rafale jets acquired by India in 2016 averaged approximately $236 million per unit, including weapons, support, training, and infrastructure setup costs.
For the MRFA tender, the IAF’s acquisition of 114 Rafale jets would likely involve bulk pricing advantages, but if we use the $236 million per-unit cost as a baseline, the potential expenditure would be:
This would bring the total projected cost for 114 Rafales close to $26.9 billion USD.
Hypothetical F-15 Price Point for the MRFA Tender
If the F-15 were to be included in India’s MRFA tender, using the Israeli contract price as a reference point, a similar bulk purchase of 114 F-15 aircraft could be estimated as follows:
Total Cost for 114 F-15s=114×208,000,000=23,712,000,000 USD
This suggests that a fleet of 114 F-15s for the IAF could cost around $23.7 billion USD. This is an estimate, as additional factors like customizations, weaponry, technology transfers, and local production partnerships might adjust the final price.
Price Comparison: F-15 vs. Rafale for IAF MRFA Tender
| Fighter Jet | Per-Unit Cost | Estimated Total Cost for 114 Jets | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-15 | $208 million | $23.7 billion | High thrust-to-weight, long range |
| Rafale | $236 million | $26.9 billion | Combat-proven, existing logistics |
Rafale Advantages: The Rafale, already operational in the IAF, provides advanced multirole capabilities with a strong focus on ease of maintenance, survivability, and interoperability. Familiarity with Rafale operations would streamline logistics and reduce pilot retraining requirements.
F-15 Advantages: The F-15 is known for its high thrust-to-weight ratio, superior payload capacity, and long-range capabilities, making it ideal for air superiority and strike roles. Its estimated per-unit cost is somewhat lower than the Rafale’s, potentially offering cost savings in a bulk acquisition.