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

Navdeep YadavSep 10, 2020, 08:50 IST
India’s Rafale fighter jets to be inducted today — Here’s how it stacks up against Chinese J-20
  • The Indian Air Force (IAF) will formally induct the newly acquired Rafale fighter jets today at its Ambala air base.
  • 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 stand-off with China, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will formally induct the newly acquired Rafale fighter jets at its Ambala airbase today.

The Rafale fighter jets will be part of the IAF’s 17 Squadron, known as ‘Golden Arrows’. The Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be joined by Florence Parly, the Minister of the Armed Forces of France, as a chief guest during the induction ceremony.

During the induction program, Singh along with Parly will unveil the new Rafale aircraft, followed by the traditional ‘Sarva dharma puja’ and air display by Rafale and Tejas aircraft.

While India and China remain locked in a military face-off along the LAC, and 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 July 27. The new aircraft will arrive after covering a distance of nearly 7000 km from France to India with air-to-air refueling, 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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