What's new

Featured Rafale’s Impact on IAF’s Air Power Capabilities by Air Cdre Kaiser Tufail,

.

Hi,

This is treason against the state. It is a shame that the stalwarts of the Paf are letting down the nation by talking about the weaknesses of the enemy on open world forum---.

Just to get their egos massaged the Paf officers have let out all the weaknesses of the enemy and told the enemy what to do next.

India is grateful that the Paf is teaching them how to get better over a period of time.

A weak person never stays weak all his life if he wants to seek revenge---and neither does an enemy---.
 
.
Even if IAF inducts F22, Pakistanis will come up with a theory of how they will blow them up from skies using F16s & JF17s. Incompetent PAF pilots had clear BVR advantage on 27th Feb, yet only have a MIG21 to show for all their efforts. 36 Rafales will be overkill for entire PAF, be it AIM120D or So called star wars technological marvel called PL15. Analysis from western experts have quite easily dismissed it's potency in 1 v 1 vs Meteors. Only Pakis can come up with such dumb ideologies to please their masters.
Meanwhile obsolete Indian Mig21s will down top of the line Pakistani aircrafts in 1 v 1 scenarios.
Yes the tea was fantastic
 
.
Hi,

This is treason against the state. It is a shame that the stalwarts of the Paf are letting down the nation by talking about the weaknesses of the enemy on open world forum---.

Just to get their egos massaged the Paf officers have let out all the weaknesses of the enemy and told the enemy what to do next.

India is grateful that the Paf is teaching them how to get better over a period of time.

A weak person never stays weak all his life if he wants to seek revenge---and neither does an enemy---.

Well, when you makes ordinary people as heroes, they start to act, thinking that they are above and beyond the normal.

This is whats happening. The only thing left is hand over the war plan to IAF how PAF dominated IAF on 27th Feb 2019.
 
. .
Sir I don't think he said anything which is not public knowledge.
Hi,

This is treason against the state. It is a shame that the stalwarts of the Paf are letting down the nation by talking about the weaknesses of the enemy on open world forum---.

Just to get their egos massaged the Paf officers have let out all the weaknesses of the enemy and told the enemy what to do next.

India is grateful that the Paf is teaching them how to get better over a period of time.

A weak person never stays weak all his life if he wants to seek revenge---and neither does an enemy---.
 
.
Hi,

This is treason against the state. It is a shame that the stalwarts of the Paf are letting down the nation by talking about the weaknesses of the enemy on open world forum---.

Just to get their egos massaged the Paf officers have let out all the weaknesses of the enemy and told the enemy what to do next.

India is grateful that the Paf is teaching them how to get better over a period of time.

A weak person never stays weak all his life if he wants to seek revenge---and neither does an enemy---.
like they were sleeping and didn't recognized there weaknesses after feb debacle. Indians know there weaknesses that is why there is panic buying going on, that is why Indians relying on defence systems more.
NO secretive information revealed by him.
 
.
EXPECT to see ANOTHER batch of rafales ordered by IAF in next 12 months

36-40 more will ordered in 2021 delivery starting 2024-2026

India will have 80 rafales operating alongside 120 Tejas mark1a by 2030 = 200 planes

350 SU30MKI/mig29UPG combined


AND 45 mirage2000-5

thats 595 modern fighters

AFAIK, IAF wants at least 72 Rafale jets... without big numbers these jets are not going to be a GAMECHANGER...

and as someone with great access told me verbally... Super Sukhoi will proceed only after UTTAM RADAR is ready for MKI... because least Russian components/involvement DESIRED...

Russia was asking too much for PLANNED UPGRADES...

NOW ON TOPIC, Mr. Tufail is very right with his analysis... on 27th Feb, IAF was blinded by ERIEYE... and IAF found several loopholes in their planning and equipment... F-16 & others just enjoyed the UMBRELLA...

It helped IAF to UNDERSTAND...

1. Importance of Tejas
2. Importance of AWACS
3. Importance of SECURED RADIO LINKS

And those who are boosting about MKI missing the action... MKIs were busy in countering the barrage of AAMRAMs fired upon them... which they did successfully... and it was not a very long dual because tiny and old MiG 21 was able to create panic in the opposition after the DUSRA BANDA episode happened...
 
.
Rafale’s Impact on IAF’s Air Power Capabilities
September 10, 2020

View attachment 668674


Air Cdre Kaiser Tufail (Retd)

Quite clearly, the inadequacy of IAF’s Su-30MKI and MiG-29 twin-engine fighters in the air superiority role led to the decision to acquire the Rafale, ostensibly a more modern and capable multi-role fighter. While both Russian fighters are highly maneuverable in a visual dogfight, as evidenced in several IAF exercises with RAF Typhoons and USAF F-15s and F-16s, they seem to have shortcomings in network-centric, Beyond Visual Range (BVR) combat. This was noticed during the 27 February 2019 skirmish with PAF F-16s, when a pair of Su-30s failed to establish data link and were of no mutual support to each other. The capabilities of the much-touted N011M ‘Bars’ airborne intercept radar are also suspect as the patrolling Su-30s were unable to launch even a single radar-guided R-77 BVR missiles against two dozen PAF fighters milling in the area on 27 February. While a definitive conclusion about the shortcomings of the Su-30 fire-control radar and missiles cannot be made on the basis of a single engagement, it is clear that they are not at par with the PAF F-16/AMRAAM combo. The IAF was aware of these limitations of the Russian fighters, which is why it had initiated measures for the acquisition of Western multi-role combat aircraft instead of more Su-30s, as far back as 2012.

IAF’s choice fell on the French Rafale, which is, indeed, a formidable multi-role fighter with long range and endurance, along with a sizeable payload in the class of the Su-30, areas that single-engine fighters like the F-16A/B and JF-17 cannot compete in. With a powerful radar and the long-range, radar-guided Meteor BVR missile, it comes at a cost of $120 million apiece. Dollar for dollar, PAF can acquire four JF-17 Blk-III for the cost of one Rafale, thus more than offsetting the latter’s payload capabilities, at least. The range of the Rafale’s Meteor missile claimed by the manufacturer (MBDA) to be 100+ km led the Indian Prime Minister to ruefully state that, “if we had the Rafale, results would have been different [on 27 February].”

Mr. Modi has apparently not yet been briefed by his Air Staff about the JF-17’s upcoming PL-15 BVR missile guided by the new AESA radar, which beats the Rafale’s ramjet-powered Meteor by several tens of kilometers. It is manifest that long range BVR combat will take precedence over close combat in any future conflict, and enemy aircraft will be shot out of the skies while remaining well inside their own territory.

While we are at it, it may be worthwhile to have a cursory line comparison of the Rafale, F-16A and JF-17 in one-on-one visual air combat.

All three aircraft have a ‘clean’ configuration Thrust-to-Weight Ratio of 1:1 and can climb and accelerate equally well. In a turning fight, Aspect Ratio and Wing Loading are critical parameters. The JF-17 and F-16A enjoy better Aspect Ratios of 3.7 each, compared to the Rafale which stands at 2.6. A better Aspect Ratio (square of wing span to wing area) implies better aerodynamic efficiency due to less induced drag during turning. As for Wing Loading, or the weight of the aircraft per unit area, the lesser the better. The Rafale has a slight edge, having 68 lbs/sq ft compared to the JF-17 and F-16A, both of which have Wing Loadings of 77 lbs/sq ft. A lightly loaded wing helps in a tighter turn, though in case of the Rafale, this advantage is overcome by greater induced drag due its lower Aspect Ratio. In sum, all three fighters are at par, more or less, in a turning fight.

Induction of the Rafale in IAF has created considerable media interest, and the impression has been created that with immediate effect, IAF will rule the Indian skies. It must, however, be remembered that it will be at least two years before the Rafale achieves anything close to Full Operational Capability. PAF, on the other hand, has been flying F-16s for 37 years, including hot scenarios during the Afghan War, in local counter-insurgency operations, and the latest Operation ‘Swift Retort,’ downing half a dozen enemy fighters in these operations. The JF-17 has been fully operational for over a decade, and is expected to replace the legacy fighters over the next five years. These combat-proven PAF fighters are fully integrated with the air defence system, and are mutually data-linked, alongside all AEW and ground sensors. Such capabilities are not achieved overnight, and it will be several years before the Rafales can be considered a threat in any real sense.

Any immediate impact of the Rafale on IAF’s air power capabilities is, thus, simply over-hyped. This inference, however, must not be dealt with lightly, as there is a distinct possibility of the Indian Prime Minister using the Rafale for a false-flag operation in a surreptitious manner, to prove his point that, “with the Rafale, the results would have been different,” from those of 27 February 2019.

Air Cdre Kaiser Tufail (Retired) is a former fighter pilot and a writer on military affairs.

What's that on the Rafale's tail? They sure keep attaching weird stuff to Indian planes.
 
.
Given the highly credible track record of AC KT this statement is more important for me than the rest of the article.
Indeed to me this is a confirmation of Pl-15
He seems to be more reliable then even ISPR at times lol
 
.
What's that on the Rafale's tail? They sure keep attaching weird stuff to Indian planes.
Dont knoq but indian rafales are highly customized and include a decoy along with several other enhancement not seen in french models
 
.
Dont knoq but indian rafales are highly customized and include a decoy along with several other enhancement not seen in french models

Looks like some sort of transmitter/laser and camera?

1599806405820.png


Haven't seen it on any other planes including Chinese ones:-


In this video it's a slightly different device on the tail of the Rafale:-


Or it could be just a sensor :(
 
Last edited:
.
Even if IAF inducts F22, Pakistanis will come up with a theory of how they will blow them up from skies using F16s & JF17s. Incompetent PAF pilots had clear BVR advantage on 27th Feb, yet only have a MIG21 to show for all their efforts. 36 Rafales will be overkill for entire PAF, be it AIM120D or So called star wars technological marvel called PL15. Analysis from western experts have quite easily dismissed it's potency in 1 v 1 vs Meteors. Only Pakis can come up with such dumb ideologies to please their masters.
Meanwhile obsolete Indian Mig21s will down top of the line Pakistani aircrafts in 1 v 1 scenarios.
Yes the tea was fantastic
Well you are right indian anaylsist have dismissed it
While americans are worried and rushing to bring their aim 260 in service (which isnt a ramjet)
Raptor of east is going to be followed by f35 of the east lol (rafale)
 
.
AFAIK, IAF wants at least 72 Rafale jets... without big numbers these jets are not going to be a GAMECHANGER...

and as someone with great access told me verbally... Super Sukhoi will proceed only after UTTAM RADAR is ready for MKI... because least Russian components/involvement DESIRED...

Russia was asking too much for PLANNED UPGRADES...

NOW ON TOPIC, Mr. Tufail is very right with his analysis... on 27th Feb, IAF was blinded by ERIEYE... and IAF found several loopholes in their planning and equipment... F-16 & others just enjoyed the UMBRELLA...

It helped IAF to UNDERSTAND...

1. Importance of Tejas
2. Importance of AWACS
3. Importance of SECURED RADIO LINKS

And those who are boosting about MKI missing the action... MKIs were busy in countering the barrage of AAMRAMs fired upon them... which they did successfully... and it was not a very long dual because tiny and old MiG 21 was able to create panic in the opposition after the DUSRA BANDA episode happened...
come on man. India never acknowledge the Tejas role in feb conflict. Please don't think we are audience sitting in theater and watching Bollywood.
 
.
AFAIK, IAF wants at least 72 Rafale jets... without big numbers these jets are not going to be a GAMECHANGER...

and as someone with great access told me verbally... Super Sukhoi will proceed only after UTTAM RADAR is ready for MKI... because least Russian components/involvement DESIRED...

Russia was asking too much for PLANNED UPGRADES...

NOW ON TOPIC, Mr. Tufail is very right with his analysis... on 27th Feb, IAF was blinded by ERIEYE... and IAF found several loopholes in their planning and equipment... F-16 & others just enjoyed the UMBRELLA...

It helped IAF to UNDERSTAND...

1. Importance of Tejas
2. Importance of AWACS
3. Importance of SECURED RADIO LINKS

And those who are boosting about MKI missing the action... MKIs were busy in countering the barrage of AAMRAMs fired upon them... which they did successfully... and it was not a very long dual because tiny and old MiG 21 was able to create panic in the opposition after the DUSRA BANDA episode happened...

Your own media outlets acknowledged the weaknesses and hence called for the MAHABALI RAFALE.



New Delhi: A year after Pakistan outgunned and outnumbered the Indian Air Force on 27 February through “Ops Swift Retort”, not much has changed on the ground.

Pakistan was armed with better fighter planes, Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missiles like AMRAAMs and backed by state-of-the-art SAAB airborne warning and control systems (AWACS), and left the Indian Air Force wanting in many places.

From limitations of the Su 30 MKI radar to pick up enemy fighters properly to the technical issue faced by the Mirage 2000 aircraft over firing their Mica air-to-air missile, the list of the shortcomings that the IAF experienced is long.

If Pakistan were to repeat the “Swift Retort” today, the situation doesn’t look great even a year later.

There is, however, a silver lining — the Rafale fighter jets, to be equipped with better weapons package, especially the Meteor air-to-air missile that tilts the scales in India’s favour against both Pakistan and China, will start arriving May onwards.

 
.

Latest posts

Country Latest Posts

Back
Top Bottom