Indian Rafale Jet's Superiority in Kinematics, Electronic Warfare, and Meteor Missiles Surpasses Pakistan's J-10CE, Confirms European Think-Tank

A recent analysis by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a highly respected European defence think-tank, has dispelled claims that the Chinese-made J-10C fighter jet offers the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) an advantage over the Indian Air Force's (IAF) Rafale.

The report definitively concludes that the Rafale maintains superiority in key areas crucial for modern aerial combat.

The RUSI analysis, authored by airpower expert Justin Bronk, directly addressed claims often promoted by Pakistani defence circles and some Chinese media outlets. These claims suggested the J-10C, a 4.5-generation multirole fighter, provided a decisive edge in beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat due to its Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and PL-15 air-to-air missile.

Such assertions arose amidst speculation of Pakistan acquiring the J-10C to offset India's procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France's Dassault Aviation in 2016.

Bronk's assessment acknowledges the J-10C's AESA radar and PL-15 missile as potential threats to non-stealth aircraft. However, the analysis firmly establishes the Rafale's dominance in realistic combat scenarios, especially at long ranges where BVR engagements are paramount.

The report highlights the Rafale's superior kinematic performance – its ability to maneuver, accelerate, and maintain high speeds. Powered by twin Snecma M88 engines, the Rafale's aerodynamic design allows it to conserve energy during complex maneuvers, a vital advantage in both dogfights and BVR engagements.

While the J-10C is agile, its less powerful WS-10 engine (or AL-31F in export models) results in a lower thrust-to-weight ratio, limiting its kinematic performance compared to the Rafale.

Furthermore, the Rafale possesses a significant advantage in electronic warfare (EW) capabilities. Its Spectra electronic warfare suite, developed by Thales, offers advanced electronic countermeasures, radar jamming, and infrared decoy capabilities.

Spectra significantly improves the Rafale's survivability by disrupting enemy radar and missile guidance, making it difficult for adversaries to achieve a solid lock. The RUSI report explicitly states the J-10C is "unlikely to be able to match the Rafale for electronic warfare capabilities."

Crucially, the analysis compares the Rafale's MBDA Meteor missile with the J-10C's PL-15E. The Meteor, considered one of the world's most advanced air-to-air missiles, utilizes a ramjet propulsion system, maintaining high speed and providing an exceptional range (reportedly exceeding 200 km) and a large no-escape zone. This makes it highly effective against maneuvering targets at long distances.

The Meteor's sustained speed and energy, a result of the ramjet, offer a distinct advantage over the PL-15E, which relies on a traditional rocket motor that loses energy over distance. While publicly available data indicates that the range of PL-15 is around 145 Km.

The RUSI assessment reinforces the strategic importance of India's Rafale acquisition. The 36 Rafale jets, stationed at Ambala and Hasimara airbases, have proven their operational value along India's borders. The aircraft's dominance in BVR combat scenarios strengthens the IAF's deterrence capabilities, particularly amidst ongoing tensions with China and Pakistan.

 

[P2S2]

Discounting baised European trumpeting, Rafales superiority is evident, it depends on the opposition's counter measures which we can only guess at, presently.

 

[swatkats_razor]

Outclasses a Rafale or not, the J-10s is a very decent combat aircraft and the fact that there are over 600 J-10s up there, flying. The right question to ask is, if 100 or so J-10s are a match for 36 Rafales in case of a two front war?

I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine.

Perhaps, we need Tejas Mk-2 more than we need Rafales.

 

[P2S2]

Outclasses a Rafale or not, the J-10s is a very decent combat aircraft and the fact that there are over 600 J-10s up there, flying. The right question to ask is, if 100 or so J-10s are a match for 36 Rafales in case of a two front war?

I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine.

Perhaps, we need Tejas Mk-2 more than we need Rafales.

Yes definitely. We need Area Denial in a big way. We will be on our own for sure.

 

[KINDA SUS]

The J-10 nearly took 30+ years from concept to J-10C service. Still, after all that effort, it cannot surpass the Rafale aircraft in overall capability. There are only two nations that operate the J-10C—the People's Liberation Army Air Force, which has 600+, and the Pakistani Air Force, which had only 12 as of 2022.
Though China has mass production capabilities and indigenous weapon development, it still lacks weapons featuring cutting-edge engineering like those in the West and Europe.

 

[P2S2]

The J-10 nearly took 30+ years from concept to J-10C service. Still, after all that effort, it cannot surpass the Rafale aircraft in overall capability. There are only two nations that operate the J-10C—the People's Liberation Army Air Force, which has 600+, and the Pakistani Air Force, which had only 12 as of 2022.
Though China has mass production capabilities and indigenous weapon development, it still lacks weapons featuring cutting-edge engineering like those in the West and Europe.

The first two decades get used up comprehending technology thought up by others. China is now thinking up technology and we have no clue. All this talk about them not up there with the so called Israeli, European or American brains is for our own consumption. Pretending we are safe because they are not there yet is dangerous. You can actually SEE them building yet we close our eyes and not look. When they move it will be too late for snoring dummies. They are real, their science and technology is real and we have no clue because we don't want to know. Wistful thinking. Chinggis Kaan swept in and massacred millions. His descendants swept in and ruled our Desh for centuries. Just because the Arabs managed to subvert his descendants doesn't mean a thing. Ask the ughurs in the north.

 

[OlegO]

My Lords! Frankly, sweet just starts to get boring: around thirty six (!?) units "rafale-hero" in Indian subcontinent? You need many hundreds on the assembly line. Regards. https://forum.warthunder.com/t/iai-kfir-early-production-birth-of-the-lion-cub/65711 half a century ago!..

 

[Sandeep]

Everyone knows that the Rafale jet is among the best out of all 4.5th generation jet. It’s technology, radar absorbing paint, semi stealth, weapons, technology and EW etc.

This guy seems like he wants a job at a Chinese company and he’s so desperate for it 😂😂😂

 

[P2S2]

Everyone knows that the Rafale jet is among the best out of all 4.5th generation jet. It’s technology, radar absorbing paint, semi stealth, weapons, technology and EW etc.

This guy seems like he wants a job at a Chinese company and he’s so desperate for it 😂😂😂

When fatalities mount up it's not funny anymore. 20 to 4. Be prepared in advance not to get swamped and wait for them to chicken out and withdraw. Chinggis didn't bother coming in. It was his descendants centuries later who came in. He loved farsi women and had 5,000 wives. The Turks are his children. Hitler admired Mustaffa Kamal. Indra paid her respects to her origins. Subverting the descendants didn't help the Arabs. That's why they hate Kaan plane. Invaders are destroyers not builders. Both China and India are builders. Someday they will get together with the Arabs. In the meantime be prepared to fight.