The Rafale carries heavy

[h0mer]

F-22 has 0 combat record. Doesn't mean it's bad jet. JF-17 is currently the best light fighter in the world.

F-22 is also not Chinese reverse-engineered junk. JF-17 is the worst light fighter in the world. We can play this game forever.

 

[Basel]

Whenever we want something, usually we print articles about how inferior our current inventory is in comparison to another countries equipment (even though it's really not). Then the congressmen and the US citizens get scared and next thing you know we're pouring billions of dollars into a future program. Don't believe everything the media tells you, most of the time it's a ploy.

Chinese made junk (which you think), is going to be used in your 5th gen plane.

US put China-made parts in F-35 fighter program
.
Exclusive: U.S. waived laws to keep F-35 on track with China-made parts - Yahoo News Canada

Guys we are going off topic please stick to it.

 

[Ayush]

looks great

 

[Pakistanisage]

Libya. Unlike your Chinese crap, they've at least used their machines in theater.

Libya ? Really ?

The Ferocious Libyan Air Force was engaging Rafale ?

Has Rafale been ever tested in Aerial Combat with a worthy opponent ?

 

[arp2041]

Libya ? Really ?

The Ferocious Libyan Air Force was engaging Rafale ?

Has Rafale been ever tested in Aerial Combat with a worthy opponent ?

LOL, this is the most IDIOTIC argument.

Even F-22 hasn't been tested in Aerial combat with a worth opponent, what does that mean for you???

 

[Abingdonboy]

For those who think only Rafale only has ground strike capability and EFT lacks it.

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Rafale is good multirole plane but EFT is not far behind it in terms of being multirole plane.

No it really is.

 

[Superboy]

Rafale is a pretty old design. First flight 1986, 12 years before J-10 first flight. I seriously don't see how such an old fighter can sell at at least 120 million a piece.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Rafale has never proven itself in combat. Until that day, it is a paper plane.

Well that's not true, it has flown combat missions in Libya, Mali and Afghanistan. But then some people here will come along and say these weren't "true" combat missions or whatever nonsense they want to spout. As this has become a Rafale vs EFT debate we can only use 1 comparative example and that is the Libya campaign of 2011. Here the Rafales massively outperformed the EFT, in fact in some cases it was embarrassing for the EFT how inferior their A2G capabilities were at that time.

 

[Superboy]

Well that's not true, it has flown combat missions in Libya, Mali and Afghanistan. But then some people here will come along and say these weren't "true" combat missions or whatever nonsense they want to spout. As this has become a Rafale vs EFT debate we can only use 1 comparative example and that is the Libya campaign of 2011. Here the Rafales massively outperformed the EFT, in fact in some cases it was embarrassing for the EFT how inferior their A2G capabilities were at that time.

India's adversaries Pakistan and China are not like Libya. They have massive population, technology, military. Pakistan has JF-17 and F-16 and China has J-10 and Flanker, all are very well serviced and trained unlike Libya's fighter jets which are outdated, badly serviced, badly trained. Rafale is good against Libya, but that says nothing about how it can do versus India's adversaries because the latter are significantly stronger than Libya.

 

[Abingdonboy]

India's adversaries Pakistan and China are not like Libya. They have massive population, technology, military. Pakistan has JF-17 and China has J-10, all are very well serviced and trained unlike Libya's fighter jets which are outdated, badly serviced, badly trained. Rafale is good against Libya, but that says nothing about how it can do versus India's adversaries because the latter are significantly stronger than Libya.

I agree and even in this relatively weak country the EFT was found wanting whereas the Rafale excelled and did everything that wad asked of it- as it has in Mali and Afghanistan. To date not a single Eurofighter has been deployed to Afghanistan either- says something, don't you think?

 

[Pakistanisage]

LOL, this is the most IDIOTIC argument.

Even F-22 hasn't been tested in Aerial combat with a worth opponent, what does that mean for you???

So you are comparing Rafale with F22 ?

 

[arp2041]

So you are comparing Rafale with F22 ?

Are you Insane?? when did I compare the two?? I just gave you an example to contradict your point.

Anyways forget it.

 

[UKBengali]

LOL, this is the most IDIOTIC argument.

Even F-22 hasn't been tested in Aerial combat with a worth opponent, what does that mean for you???

You missed the point he was trying to make.

He was not saying that the Rafale is not a good plane but that it's combat record means nothing as the adversaries were weak.

 

[sancho]

Yes, but the other 9 do.

He is right though, these hardpoints and the fact that it has only 3 wet stations as well as size limitations at the centerline are clear design flaws of the EF. Compare it to the Mirage 2000s, which basically has the same fuselage hardpoint layout and similar gear bay layout too, it can carry 4 x MICAs, 250Kg LGBs, or pods at the the fuselage stations, while the centerline still can carry a cruise missile. The EF on the other side is limited to use the centerline station for LDPs, can't carry a single other weapon at these stations and has size limitations at the centerline. It is a big mess, only to say it carries 4 x AIM 120 or now METEOR in every mission, which looks good but the operational restrictions are a real problem. Btw nice to see in Libya too, where the EF showed off in air superiority roles with 4 x AIM 120 and 4 x ASRAAM, even when the Libyan air force gave up. On the other side, it couldn't use a recon pod like the Tornados, Rafales, Gripens or Mirages F1 did, it could't do deep strikes like the Tornados, Mirage 2000s and Rafales and even it's CAS performance was basic (that however only because of limited weapon options, not because of design issues).
The point of lower RCS with these semi reeced stations is hardly an advantage, when you keep in mind that a standard CAP config includes 2 x 1000l fuel tanks, so is that really a point?

 

[sancho]

JF-17 is similarly used in FATA for ground ops as your super duper Rafales were used in Libya. So as per your terms now JF-17 is battle tested and proven platform.

IF JF 17 would had done air superiority, recon, SEAD and CAS operations over the airspace of the enemy, while the air force and ground defences were fully active, you could say JF 17 would be as proven, but that of course is by far not the case as we all know.
Claiming Rafale is not battle proven, only because the Libyian air force was smart enough not to take on the allied forces, is just nonsense, especially since you limit the whole battle to a single scenario only, ignoring the great performance it showed in all other roles and the way it even outshined latest US fighters. The technical capability it showed was more than impressive and that's the same reason why everybody knows that the F22 currently is the best A2A fighter around, because it's techs and capabilities are highly advanced, although it wasn't used in a single war so far. Rafale on the other hand has these advanced techs and capabilities and proved it in operational service too, while it's A2A capabilities should be more than proven now, in exercises against all the most capable air superiority fighters around.