A huge amount of money is involved in acquisition of these French aircrafts from its maker Dassault aviation. According to the report, when the tender was first proposed in 2007, the cost of the programme was $12 billion (Rs 42,000 crore).
When Dassault Rafale was declared the lowest bidder in January 2012, the cost of the deal rose to $18 billion (Rs 90,000 crore). Now with the addition of transfer of technology, life cycle costs and establishment of an assembly line, the cost of the contract has climbed to a enormous $20 billion.
