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.

 

[NSR]

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.

 

[sanket]

Chinese propoganda

 

[nakul1307]

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

 

[Gudakesh]

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

My thoughts exactly.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Kahin ki eet, kahin ka roda.
Chinese media nei kunbaa jodaa.

In many ways, the Chinese are equal to our western neighbors. Especially when it comes to blowing hot gas. No wonder they match up so well.

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

The claims may be are false. But the truth is, they have flying J20s of their own and we are testing Tejas mk1A, while MK2 and AMCA only on paper.

If fight happens even after 6 -7 years from now on, we won't have enough Rafaels to counter them.

 

[Bharat007]

Both of them has not been tested in real dogfight. So, it would be wrong to assume that J20 or Rafale will outperform each other. Such articles and observations are based merely on assumption. It is useless to bring conclusion on the basis of speculation.

 

[Tercel]

Chinese propoganda

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

 

[Tercel]

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

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?

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Both of them has not been tested in real dogfight. So, it would be wrong to assume that J20 or Rafale will outperform each other. Such articles and observations are based merely on assumption. It is useless to bring conclusion on the basis of speculation.

Rafale is battle tested. It was used in libya and it performed very well. They were better than american jets.

 

[Arz786]

Can it be a psychological ploy to discourage India from ordering more Rafael ?

 

[shivkumar sinha]

IAF Mig-21 also smashed famed American F-15 in exercises . J-20 will be shot down by our Tejas mark-1A armed with Astra variants over Tibetan sky . Rafales will perform SEAD/ DEAD operations to cripple PLA airdefence in Tibet.

 

[amerjit johal]

Rafale is battle tested. It was used in libya and it performed very well. They were better than american jets.

After the USN and RN Tomahawks had destroyed Libyan air bases and defences. The job of USN USAF [ and a few other countries]was to enforce a no fly zone.
The hard work was done by -
France - Rafale
UK - Typhoon
Canada - F18

 

[amerjit johal]

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

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

 

[amerjit johal]

Unless the Chinese have a Rafale in it's possession and flown it extensively - then this is utter BS

 

[Sandeep]

What nonsense is this! This article is absolute rubbish and lies!

India have not had any military training exercises with China for many years and especially after the Galwan skirmish. India only had a few Rafale jets during that crisis so they hadn't been inducted properly and they still didn't have any of the Indian specific enhancement installed as we rushed around 5 jets that were made already.

This just proves that China is lying as they usually do and they will always overstate their technology advancement and military capabilities but in reality it's just empty threats.

 

[Sandeep]

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?

Our current Sukhoi and Rafale jets are more than capable of dealing with their so called stealth fighter. China always lies about their weapons and technology as it is always unreliable, defective and underperforms as it can't do everything they say it can.

The fact that you believe this article is true just shows how gullible and naive you are because China and India haven't had any military exercises for a number of years.

 

[Sandeep]

Can it be a psychological ploy to discourage India from ordering more Rafael ?

This is fake media and propaganda. China wants Indian people to think that we are inferior and our military is weak but their own military is the best with the technology and type of weapons it has created.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

After the USN and RN Tomahawks had destroyed Libyan air bases and defences. The job of USN USAF [ and a few other countries]was to enforce a no fly zone.
The hard work was done by -
France - Rafale
UK - Typhoon
Canada - F18

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

 

[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