Rafale versus Super Hornet

[SpArK]

Hehehe.. Then I pick RAFALE..

Get a grip. You are still the Grippen man !

 

[SirHatesALot]

Rafail deal is never going to happen.

 

[Bang Galore]

but @seiko raised a good point that Pakfa will come with tech transfer , but f-35 will not ..

Ya but again how much usable tech I'm not sure. In any case i prefer not to favour putting all the eggs in an single basket.

and i believe f-35 might take years to be operational with IAF , they re already on order for many airforces ..

Anything will take years, not like PAKFA is available or will be any time soon.

 

[rockstar08]

Ya but again how much usable tech I'm not sure. In any case i prefer not to favour putting all the eggs in an single basket.





Anything will take years, not like PAKFA is available or will be any time soon.

well than Rafale will be stop Gap ?? you wish to spend billions of dollar on stop gap ??
or because IAF potential enemies are PAF and PLAAF , PAF have no such Fighter which will be equal to Rafale in next 5-8 years , and PLAAF is already ahead of you , and when you will get Rafale they will be producing J-20, J-31 in Mass numbers ..
why not Order more mki or upgrade them to MKK standards ? than go directly for Pakfa ??

 

[Bang Galore]

well than Rafale will be stop Gap ?? you wish to spend billions of dollar on stop gap ??

A question that needs answering.........

 

[Iggy]

A question that needs answering.........

Even Eurofighter seems to be more viable than Rafale now.. We should hard bargain for partnership in their consortium.. Or we should atleast open a negotiation with them to put Rafale guys at their right place.

 

[rockstar08]

A question that needs answering.........

well i think IAF is presenting themselves as weak buyers to french , they should reconsider other options, it can be Su 35 as well

 

[trident2010]

why not Order more mki or upgrade them to MKK standards ?

Upgrade (or downgrade) MKIs to mkk? MKIs are most superior of all the Su-30 versions .. lolz

 

[rockstar08]

Upgrade (or downgrade) MKIs to mkk? MKIs are most superior of all the Su-30 versions .. lolz

well i dont know much about the difference between mkk or mki ...

 

[Manindra]

well i dont know much about the difference between mkk or mki ...

MKK is mainly for strike role but MKI is Air Superiority Fighter with strike role in secondary.

 

[C130]

Rafale is far superior than the Super Hornet and and massively superior to the regular hornet.
we went on the cheap for replacing the F-14, but they still get the job done though so I can't complain

Hornet is based on the YF-17 that lost to the fighter that would become the F-16.
Northrop YF-17 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[500]

Rafale: agility and supercruise.
SH: more powerful radar.

Other specs are more or less equal.

 

[sancho]

Boeing has not been re-pitching Hornets, so its not an option.

Actually they did, when it was clear that they wouldn't be shortlisted, partially because of not meeting the flight performance requirements of the RFP, they tried to pitch in the GE 414 EPE, just as other upgrades of the Super Hornet for international customers, which however are not funded or developed yet and MoD rejected that late offer. Back then and even now that pitch would not make much sense in the M-MRCA since the development will take time, but for an order of IN for IAC2 it would a capable and cost-effective alternative.

Wrt the opening article:

AIR-TO-GROUND:
Interdiction/Penetration:

Since both aircraft have similar RCS combined with similar electronic warfare suites, there is little choice but to declare this one a draw.

Advantage: Tie... Unless you count the EA-18G Growler.

The RCS is mainly speculation, but the SPECTRA EWS includes advanced sensors that not even the Growler has so far, which are only part of the SH growth map (spherical MAWS and LWRs), more over SPECTRA provides digital RWR with interferometry technology, to geolocate EM target, this is again is only available in the Growlers not in the standard F18SH. The Growler mainly adds the high power jammers, which however are used only for escort jamming or SEAD roles and are not standard equipment of the F18SH

=> That means, that any standard Rafale has far better EW capability than even the Growler, let alone the standard F18SH that is available for most export customers. So even if one assumes a tie for RCS, the advantage of Rafale in terms of EW is evident!

Deep Strike: Both aircraft have similar combat radii...
...With both aircraft being more or less tied for range, we have to look at their long range air-to-ground weaponry... ...This give the Rhino a significant advantage here.

Advantage: Super Hornet

Which is pretty nonsense, since Rafale is given with superior combat and ferry range and the JASSM missile is only available to certain export countries, most countries like India for example are limited to JSOW stand off weapons only, with half the range of Scalp cruise missile. So performance wise advantage Rafale, weapon wise too, unless you are a close ally of the US.

Close-air-support:
The Super Hornet's most impressive weapon in the close-air-support arsenal is the precision SDB II (Small Diameter Bomb) which carries a 250lb warhead for minimal collateral damage.

With both fighters being incredibly competent for close-air-support, this one ends up as a draw.


Advantage: Tie

Afaik F18SH's doesn't have SDB integrated yet and the SDB2 is only about to come, which leaves the F18 with JDAM and Paveway LGBs Vs AASM and Paveway LGBs and the performance as well as load capability of AASM gives Rafale the advantage!

AIR-TO-AIR:

First-look, first-kill: Again, these different-looking fighters have remarkably similar capability. Both have similarly sized AESA radars and, with the F/A-18E/F's fuel tank/IRST in place...

...Comparing the aircraft's EW and countermeasures pose a similar challenge...

...Neither fighter has a clear advantage in detection or stealth. There may be significantly different details, but not enough for me to declare one superior to the other.

Advantage: Tie

AESA, possibly more range for the SH
IRST optional only for both, but with limited FoV for the SH
FSO-IT TV channel with up to 60Km range, clear advantage for Rafale
EW sensors, more different sensors, all around the fighter to, clear advantage Rafale

Versatility: The Rafale is marketed as an "Omnirole" fighter

The Rafale is a great single-type solution, but the Growler variant of the Super Hornet makes up for any faults the F/A-18E/F has as an air-superiority fighter.

Advantage: Tie

The Growler itself shows what limits the F18SH to be an omni role fighter, the fact that it's need dedicated capabilities to do SEAD roles, while any Rafale could do that without modifications.

 

[l'ingénieur]

better pilot will always win

 

[AMDR]

About that "Advanced Super Hornet" concept......
Apparently the US messed around with a Stealth Super Hornet, but nothing came of it.