[ravager]

F-16s and F-18s failed the technical evaluation and were found to be quite inferior to Eurofighter and Rafale. Beside the Europeans are ready to offer TOT and other offsets without the need for CISMOA. The US was trying to sell old inferior fighters with too many strings attached. That is where US lost out.

[PapaBear3625]

The “strings attached” were probably the deal killer. They did not want to be dependent on US for spare parts that could be withheld if some US administration wanted to squeeze them.

[RayChuang88]

I still say the Rafale is now in the lead because you know Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) wants license production rights, and since the French AF Ralafe and French Navy Rafale share many common components, that could mean a long production run at HAL, possibly over 300 planes.