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India’s Rafale fighter jets — Here’s how it stacks up against Chinese J-20

Navdeep YadavJul 29, 2020, 15:04 IST

India’s Rafale fighter jets — Here’s how it stacks up against Chinese J-20 — IAF
Here’s a comparison between China’s J-20 and India’s Rafale fighter jets
Rafale’s engine is better in terms of reliability, longevity and maintainability, according to reports.
While there has been a lot of speculation about J-20 stealth characteristics based on analysis by the Indian Air Force; Rafale is actually designed for a reduced radar cross-section (RCS) and infrared signature.
Amidst India’s border standoff with China, five out of the first batch of 36 Rafale fighter aircrafts will join the Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet in a few hours in Ambala, today (July 29).

While India and China remain locked in a military face-off along the LAC, and on the other side as the cross-border firing and infiltration bids by Pakistan-based terror groups increase, this delivery of new fighter jets will provide the much-needed muscle to India’s armed forces.

Built by Dassault, the Rafale fighter aircraft flew out from Merignac airbase in Bordeaux, France to India on Monday. The new aircraft will arrive after covering a distance of nearly 7000 kms from France to India with air-to-air refuelling and a single stop en route in the UAE.

While the two superpowers are amidst a military face-off, here’s a comparison of the most powerful fighter jets that they have — China’s J-20 and India’s Rafale.

Chengdu fighter a 3.5 generation aircraft

Chengdu fighter a 3.5 generation aircraft — wikipedia
While Rafale is a 4.5 generation aircraft, China still claims that its J-20 is the 5th generation and has more capabilities to counter Rafale.
However, Retired Air Marshal R Nambiar, who tested the Rafale fighter jets for India, said, “Rafale is far superior to the J-20, the Chengdu fighter of China. Even though it’s believed to be a 5th generation fighter, it is probably at best a 3.5 generation aircraft. It’s got a third-generation engine as we have in the Sukhoi.”
But the Rafale engine is better in terms of reliability, longevity and maintainability, according to reports.

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Real stealth features

Real stealth features — IAF
The J-20 was hyped to be a highly stealthy fighter jet and was said that it could conceal itself in operations and not be easily detected. And there has been a lot of speculation about J-20 stealth characteristics based on analysis by the Indian Air Force.
However, the Rafale is actually designed for a reduced radar cross-section (RCS) and infrared signature, which means it has the real stealth features.

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Rafale can carry more weapons and fuel than J-20

Rafale can carry more weapons and fuel than J-20 — Rafale beats the J-20 in almost every comparison and even in terms of weapons load systems and its combat abilities Rafale is more resistive than the J-20
According to a senior Indian Air Force (IAF) official, “Rafale can lift loads up to 1.5 times its weight, which means it can carry weapons and fuel of far greater capacity than the J-20.”

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