In India’s high-profile Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition—dubbed the “mother of all defense deals”—the Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon were the two final contenders. Although both aircraft met the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) demanding technical criteria, and the Eurofighter passed evaluations, the Rafale ultimately secured the contract. The key differentiator was cost: the Eurofighter’s acquisition and long-term operational expenses were significantly higher than those of the Rafale, tipping the balance in Dassault’s favor.
