J-20 vs. Rafale: Chinese Simulated Victory Raises More Questions Than Answers

A recent report from China is making bold claims: their domestically produced J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighter jet soundly defeated Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale jets in a simulated combat exercise.

While unsurprisingly celebrated within Chinese media, military analysts urge caution in interpreting these results and raise significant questions about the exercise and the aircraft's real-world capabilities.

The Simulated Engagement​

According to Chinese sources, a pilot from the Eastern Theater Command's Wang Hai Air Group bragged about defeating 17 Rafale jets during a simulated exercise.

Chinese media trumpets the J-20's supposed superiority, focusing on its stealth capabilities – radar-absorbing coatings and an ability to evade detection – as the key to overwhelming the Rafales.

Additionally, China cites the J-20's Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar as a factor, suggesting it can track and target Rafales before a counterattack is possible.

Caution and Skepticism​

Military experts urge a measured approach to these claims. Simulated exercises, while useful, can be tailored to create specific outcomes. It's possible the scenario favored the J-20 unrealistically.

More crucially, the J-20's actual combat prowess remains entirely untested. Its performance in a real-life engagement against a capable adversary like the Rafale is unknown.

China's Perspective​

Despite these cautions, Chinese military specialists like Fu Qianshao express strong confidence in the J-20. They emphasize radar evasion as a critical tactical advantage and suggest that the J-20's maneuverability and weapons systems might outclass older Western fighter designs.

The Bigger Picture​

Regardless of the simulated combat's specific parameters, China's claims highlight the nation's growing assertiveness about its military capabilities.

While simulated exercises can't perfectly predict real-world performance, the J-20 program marks a significant leap forward in Chinese aviation technology.

Its development will undoubtedly be closely tracked by defense experts around the globe, as it has implications for regional and global power balances.

 

[Pink Panther]

Definitely a FALSETTO narrative from sheengu jeengu PiGgu terra cotta armed forces.

china may have a pretty good and bigger AESA radar than RBE2 but I do not believe that they have anything equivalent to Rafale Spectr EW system and Meteor long range BVRAAMs.

it is obvious, 200 J-20’s will definitely dominate 36 Rafale’s, this is why we need cheaper capable jets in larger quantities, we don’t have budget to buy 200 Rafale’s to match J20’s or can wait for 10 years to get them, .our MK2/AMCA will take 5-10 years minimum, may be even more, so MRFA is the only option, we need to get the most cheapest jet with all the latest tech to track stealth jets and that’s all, WW3 is brewing already, we need to hurry up, in case M0di looses or wins with less majority then it will be a big problem for everything.

 

[Deepak Hegde]

Ahahahhaaha. Do you really think a single engine 3.5 gen aircraft (of which we have less than 20) is going to pose serious problems to the 200+ J-20s the cheenis possess?

If you can't even decipher the mind games the chinees are playing, you will keep worshipping the J-20's. The J-20's are definitely not worth the hype and the fairy tales the chinees are spinning around it. Only certain gullibles will bite their fingers in awe on hearing the fairy tales, which is exactly what the chinees want!

 

[Pink Panther]

Chinese propoganda

We can’t blindly assume these kind of statements as a propaganda.

 

[ryan]

it is obvious, 200 J-20’s will definitely dominate 36 Rafale’s, this is why we need cheaper capable jets in larger quantities, we don’t have budget to buy 200 Rafale’s to match J20’s or can wait for 10 years to get them, .our MK2/AMCA will take 5-10 years minimum, may be even more, so MRFA is the only option, we need to get the most cheapest jet with all the latest tech to track stealth jets and that’s all, WW3 is brewing already, we need to hurry up, in case M0di looses or wins with less majority then it will be a big problem for everything.

& DUH 200 J20s will never be available at any single point of time because of its poor serviceability rate
& DUH Coronastan has bigger headaches & multiple powers to engage in SCS apart from just India
& DUH Coronostan's pilots ( the most imp factor behind the machine) capabilities are never proven

 

[ryan]

We did the same in some air exercise against the Americans last time. Every country does propaganda*.

We didn't. It was a leaked assessment coming from an American AF officer. So there is truth to that matter about Indian pilot's superiority. Just technical superiority doesn't make you win the war. & Propaganda isn't in the syllabus of India's Diplomacy book yet. If IAF can shoot down a relatively modern 4 gen fighter with a vintage Mig21 in dogfight, that speaks volumes about its depth and capabilities

 

[Pink Panther]

& DUH 200 J20s will never be available at any single point of time because of its poor serviceability rate
& DUH Coronastan has bigger headaches & multiple powers to engage in SCS apart from just India
& DUH Coronostan's pilots ( the most imp factor behind the machine) capabilities are never proven

How do you know that J20’s have poor serviceability rate , Chinese didn’t tell me, Chinese already have a very well established eco system to mass produce any jet, and can scale up or down depending on their needs unlike India if they wanted to, Indians are still struggling to make and induct a 4th jet here, i don’t want to use the word(us or we) as I am sometimes talking to a foreign salesmen or agent unknowingly who get mad when I either talk good about locally made Indian products or about a foreign product that is not suitable for India for either budget or other reasons, they come jumping right at me from nowhere all of sudden.

Assumption about enemy doesn’t’ provide safety to any Country, proof s and facts are needed to feel safe.

 

[Bharat007]

Yeah, i believe that rafale was the first to go in.

Rafale is not dogfight tested. It may be combat tested.

 

[BCharlie]

We hold the record. In 2007.
IAF SU30MKI were in UK for excercises with RAF.
Indian media reorted that we shot down 112 Typhoons without loss.
LOL

Sir, the world has changed since 2007. Many a things have been outdated & become obsolete by now after 17 years of our glory. Too much water, tech water, has passed under the bridge; Lets talk about today & what we are up against.. Countries with large heavy industry manufacturing base always will have upper hand.. Once we lose 30 Rafales against their loss of 60 J-20s.. they can fill it in 2-3 months.. & be back to 200+ of them J-20s;

 

[BCharlie]

Ahahahhaaha. Do you really think a single engine 3.5 gen aircraft (of which we have less than 20) is going to pose serious problems to the 200+ J-20s the cheenis possess?

Sirji, we have Tejas.. its quick like a flash.. sometimes quite difficult to see in the air;

 

[SuvarPakisareHomos]

India should use its new Radar Absorbing paint on Rafales..which will definitely reduce its Radar signature.....

 

[SuvarPakisareHomos]

Definitely a FALSETTO narrative from sheengu jeengu PiGgu terra cotta armed forces.

china may have a pretty good and bigger AESA radar than RBE2 but I do not believe that they have anything equivalent to Rafale Spectr EW system and Meteor long range BVRAAMs.

But India can coat its Rafales with its very own Radar absorbing paint....if possible.

 

[SuvarPakisareHomos]

We hold the record. In 2007.
IAF SU30MKI were in UK for excercises with RAF.
Indian media reorted that we shot down 112 Typhoons without loss.
LOL

Do you have anything good to say about India?

 

[Pad UwU]

& DUH 200 J20s will never be available at any single point of time because of its poor serviceability rate
& DUH Coronastan has bigger headaches & multiple powers to engage in SCS apart from just India
& DUH Coronostan's pilots ( the most imp factor behind the machine) capabilities are never proven

Neither our own combine different aircraft are not 100% combat ready vs 200 j20😹😹😹

 

[Pad UwU]

But India can coat its Rafales with its very own Radar absorbing paint....if possible.

RAM coating can still be detected thru low radio waves and rafales have external hard points so it'll be pointless to use RAM coating init

 

[Pad UwU]

These morons use Hollywood clips and tout them as PLA videos. Let them try, even Tejas might surprise them.

Kakakakak 😹😹😹
IMO Tejas mk1a can't shot down j20 especially in BVR fight those Chinese aircraft are purpose built to destroy enemies beyond the horizon...

Well it's not bad to dream of destroying China anyway