India's Fighter Jet Dilemma: Rafale's Power vs. Tejas' Numbers

India's Air Force faces a crucial decision as it considers expanding its fleet. The debate centers on the classic question of quality versus quantity: should India invest in a smaller number of superior Rafale fighter jets from France, or opt for the more economical, domestically-produced Tejas Mk1A, potentially acquiring a larger force?

The Rafale, a proven French medium-weight fighter, boasts impressive capabilities. With a higher Maximum Take-Off Weight, it can carry nearly three times the weapons payload of the Tejas Mk1A. Yet, the Tejas program promises significant cost savings. Experts estimate India could acquire roughly three times as many Tejas Mk1A jets for the same investment as a smaller Rafale fleet.

This dilemma highlights the age-old military axiom, "Quantity has a quality all its own." A larger number of Tejas fighters, while potentially less advanced individually, could offer tactical advantages during a large-scale conflict. However, the Rafale's superior firepower and mission versatility ensure it remains a potent symbol of India's power projection on the global stage.

The decision facing the Indian Air Force is complex. Procurement involves not only raw numbers but also factors like maintenance, pilot training, infrastructure, and long-term strategic goals. India must carefully weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each option in the context of its unique security needs.

The choice between the Tejas Mk1A and the Rafale will significantly shape the future of India's air power. This decision echoes far beyond simple procurement; it's a question of how India envisions its role as a rising military power.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

They said it will be out of hangar in 2022. Delayed. Now no guarantee.

F21 hasn’t flown either. US will send F16 which shows that F21 is nothing but renamed F21. Not even a prototype is there. And F16 was rejected.

Um actually bro that might not be entirely true. The F-21 offered to India would have been a heavily customized souped-up variant of F-16V Block 70/72. So that is already flying and being exported to Bahrain, Taiwan among others.

 

[beencensured]

First please decide if it is the best bomber or good for CAS.

It definitely both.

 

[Akshat]

It definitely both.

How is it a better bomber when compared to Rafale? Please explain.

 

[beencensured]

Uh, not exactly. The Tejas Mk 1A is intended as a replacement for the MiG-21, MiG-23, and to a lesser extent, the MiG-27. Of those, the MiG-21s and MiG-23s were primarily used as interceptors. The actual replacement for the Jaguar is the Tejas Mk 2, but it seems some of the older Jaguars may be replaced by the Mk 1A thanks to the delays in the Mk 2.

Tejas mk1a does a better job then jaguars having longer range and larger payload and just better.. Tejas actually was much better then expected exceeding its design goal by good percent. .

 

[Akshat]

Um actually bro that might not be entirely true. The F-21 offered to India would have been a heavily customized souped-up variant of F-16V Block 70/72. So that is already flying and being exported to Bahrain, Taiwan among others.

That’s what I was saying bro. F21 hasn’t been developed. F16 will be sent for evaluations. And F16 itself was rejected. Sure, there have been upgrades. Mostly in the avionics. But I don’t think that will help much because of 2 reasons. One, almost every plane has received such upgrades. And 2, IAF actually changed a lot of such things in Rafale after choosing it as the winner, during the contract negotiations. (As ISE) So F16 lost in parameters other than avionics and they have not changed much since MMRCA tender. So chances of F16V remain negligible, and thus, of F21 as well.

 

[Akshat]

All advantages of rafale is lost as soon as we induct AESA radar on Tejas mk1a as that will give abilities to use astra mk2 and mk3. Tejas has lower rcs then rafale so has some advantages too. Like mention earlier Tejas has anti- radiation weapon rudram and possible integration of Brahmos ng.

So many lies.

Anti radiation missiles- Not yet fired from Rejas

Brahmos NG- Nit test fired at all

TCS- Tejas has a RCS of 0.5, Rafale is at 0.25 and then Soectra to reduce it further

Astra mk2 and 3- No one even knows when they will be test fired, let alone inducted and integrated to Tejas

 

[Anant]

Tejas mk1a does a better job then jaguars having longer range and larger payload and just better.. Tejas actually was much better then expected exceeding its design goal by good percent. .

No, that is not an argument that will stand. The Tejas' design goals were put into place with the idea being the aircraft would enter service in the 1990s. It only entered service in the 2010s. You can't just take the 1990s benchmark to justify the Tejas being a good design in the 2010s. The Tejas is a good design, but the reasons are different.

As for the payload figures, the Tejas doesn't technically edge out the Jaguar, with both aircraft sharing a maximum payload of 4.5 tons, while the Tejas can reduce fuel to increase payload to 5.3 tons. As for range, the Jaguar has an advantage, with a combat range of 815 km to the Tejas' 739 km.

Finally, if you are going to use that logic to say a 1990s aircraft is better than a 1960s aircraft, then that is nonsensical, isn't it? A 1990s aircraft is assumed to be better than one from the 1960s, isn't it?

 

[Amit]

You just don't need Rafale for A-Z. Let air force decide how they can make a balance with the budget we have.

 

[beencensured]

No, that is not an argument that will stand. The Tejas' design goals were put into place with the idea being the aircraft would enter service in the 1990s. It only entered service in the 2010s. You can't just take the 1990s benchmark to justify the Tejas being a good design in the 2010s. The Tejas is a good design, but the reasons are different.

As for the payload figures, the Tejas doesn't technically edge out the Jaguar, with both aircraft sharing a maximum payload of 4.5 tons, while the Tejas can reduce fuel to increase payload to 5.3 tons. As for range, the Jaguar has an advantage, with a combat range of 815 km to the Tejas' 739 km.

Finally, if you are going to use that logic to say a 1990s aircraft is better than a 1960s aircraft, then that is nonsensical, isn't it? A 1990s aircraft is assumed to be better than one from the 1960s, isn't it?

Again Tejas was developed in 1990s and first flight in 2001 by 2011 it received IOC with perfect record. Tejas is similar to highly composite planes developed in 1990s like rafale, grippen, eurofighter, and so on.

Tejas mk1a does edge out the jaguars as jaguars have only 4.5 ton payload and the Tejas mk1a had further weight loss and so increase in payload capacity. Please stop pushing out dated aircraft like rafale that lack the amount of composites and lower rcs like Tejas, and only plus point in meteor missile that give long range engagement which is nullified by have astra mk2 and astra mk3 on horizon. Plus that India has developed its own AESA radars.

Correction Tejas is highly composite aircraft developed in the 90s a and is competitive with jets of those era like rafale, grippen, eurofighter having more composites then all of them by weight. Certain technology like lack of long range bvr, modern ew, AESA radar was late in development and so impacted Tejas modernity. Otherwise Tejas has more composite by weight and lower rcs then grippen, rafale and Eurofighter and so ft in with modern aircraft of its era.

 

[Fresh Water]

Domestic technology makes you a super power.
Foreign products only weaken you talent-pool, economy, and political prowess.

It also means jobs post retirement for defence personnel.