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.

 

[desigandu]

Good, as this discussion is essential for any modern fighting force - capability vs. capacity vs. budget as a function of time...the way to typically think about it is capability costs money (good capability is neither cheap, nor easily available), but capacity is also its own capability and thus we need numbers, so what should we do? it is a complex question and a lot depends on what is the minimum-maximum capacity we need (say 40-50 squadrons of fighters by 2035-2040), and where are we now (about 30 squadrons) and then project for us to get a minimum of 40 squadrons by 2035 we will need a combination of - low capability (20), medium capability(15) and high capability (5)...Rafales are at the top end of middle capability by 2035, whereas AMCA/F-35s if we get any by then will be at the top end; as far as low-medium we will have Tejas Mk1As/2s and Super Sukhoi MKIs will in the same bracket as Rafales...Given all this, MRFA is critical for IAF and thus cannot be directly compared to 200 MK1As or 200-300 MK2s on purely cost terms...on the flip side if MRFA can't be signed in 2025/2026 and the jets can't fly earliest by 2030, then the question is what are the alternatives, even if we want to accelerate Mk2s/AMCA etc...??? No country can provide us 30-50 jets per year even in an emergency...The most capacity is about 160 F-35s/per year most of which is already committed to US and its allies.

 

[desigandu]

We should cancel the entire MRFA process. Instead order 75 percent of MRFA quantity i.e. 86 no's Rafale. So total we will be having 86+36=122 Rafales.For the remaining 25 percent of MRFA budget around 5 billion, order Tejas, additional 70 nos.This way we can have both quality and quantity.

Rafales have a backlog of 250, and they currently can't make more that 20/year, so even if we want Rafales starting 2030, another assembly line is required...

 

[desigandu]

If quantity was the only thing that mattered, the world would still be fighting with sticks and stones, since you can get the largest quantity of them for a given cost.

The Rafale is undoubtedly expensive, but the trade-off between quality and quantity should also take into account the fact that we can't just produce 100 aircraft a year starting next year if we had the orders. The entire supply chain needs to be upscaled, workforce needs to be hired and trained, infrastructure needs to be developed, etc. All of this takes time, and time is a luxury we cannot afford beyond a point.

could not agree more...this discussion sometimes misses the trade offs between - capability, capacity, cost, time and above all ability of the supply chain - both domestic and foreign...nevertheless hopefully we are all patriotic Indians' who have Bharat's best interest.

 

[Shafted mohammed]

Where is Tejas mk2? Even F16 failed the trails of the IAF. Rafale is the cheapest fighter that can meet IAF’s needs.

Ya they put one rebate each day after breaking coconut so that it would be ready for first flight in 4 years. Rest of the time the team waits on the gate watching the new line replaceable units. At each unit arrival they break a coconut and instal it in 2 months.

 

[amerjit johal]

Single engine MK2 can carry 17.5tons that is pretty closer to twin engine Rafale, if payload is the concern why not make ORCA with twin engines, why spend $300Mln+ on a foreign 4th gen jet OR buy Cheaper F21 that can carry 20.3 ton payload, among 3 Tejas MK2 is the best cost wise for it's payload carrying ability.

Actually on paper MK2 can carry 37.5 tons
With a combat radius of 10,000km

 

[Rudra]

Silly article. The comparison between apples and oranges is being portrayed as one between one superior item and one inferior item.

 

[Sanatani Yodha]

How can “24ton” is three times than “13ton”?? Poor maths….
And every airforce need mix of fighter jet catagory.. thats why US have F16, F18, F15, F22 and F35…. U need light as well as heavy and elite class fighters to maintain an optimum balance between cost, quality/tech sophistication and quantity….
Clearly these people have little understanding…

 

[Anant]

Tejas is good for cas unlike the two mention, and further it is replacing jaguars which was dedicated for this role earlier. Tejas is more accurate bomber then su30mki as it has low speed flying ability.

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.

 

[Anant]

Tejas has flight refueling probe, why can't we do Mid air refueling using a fuel tankeraircraft or buddy refuelling, this is not a big deal.

In-flight refuelling is a facility, not the norm. It is a capability you use on some missions. You can't make it the norm to use it on all missions, since you then essentially relegate most of your large fighters to essentially become small armed aerial tankers.

 

[Akshat]

Tejas is good for cas unlike the two mention, and further it is replacing jaguars which was dedicated for this role earlier. Tejas is more accurate bomber then su30mki as it has low speed flying ability.

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

 

[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.