The first batch of Rafale fighter jets, which arrived in India on July 29, are all set to be inducted into the Indian Air Force on Thursday. The aircraft is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons and can fire meteor missiles to take out targets that are out of visual range.

So, how does it compare with the air prowess of India’s immediate neighbours, China and Pakistan with whom India has had a long history of border tension and disputes? Here’s a look at the key features of Rafale and how it compares with the fighter jets of India’s neighbours.

India’s Rafale:

The Rafale is manufactured by Dassault Aviation, and is equipped with a wide range of weapons. The Dassault’s ‘omnirole’ aircraft comes with a host of weapons and can perform a variety of functions like aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship strike and nuclear deterrence — according to the company.

  • Rafale is powered by two M88-2 engines from SNECMA. Each engine provides a thrust of 75KN.
  • The jets are equipped with ‘buddy-buddy; refueling’, that lets one aircraft lend its fuel to another while still in flight.
  • It can fire meteor missile to take out targets that are out of visual range.
  • Scalp missiles can take out on-ground targets 300kms away.
  • It can carry 6 ASSAM missiles at a time.

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Pakistan’s F-16 Falcon:

The best fighter jet in Pakistan Airforce is the F-16 Falcon. It is a single-engine supersonic multirole fighter, which was manufactured by General Dynamics, now Lockheed Martin for the US Air Force (USAF). The F-16 Falcon is better suited for air-to-air combat due to its high maneuvering capability.

  • The multi-role tactical aircraft has a sleek design–though not as sharp as the advanced F-22 Raptor or the F-35–and uses advanced aerodynamics and avionics.
  • Worth mentioning that it was the first aircraft built to pull 9-g manoeuvres, reaching maximum speeds of over Mach 2.
  • Some of the key innovations in F16 include a frameless bubble canopy for better visibility, side-mounted control stick and reclined seat to reduce g-force effects on pilot.
  • The F-16’s cockpit is still praised for the clear field of view it offers; pilots can get a 360-degree view during combat, thus greatly improving accuracy.

China’s Chengdu J-20:

The Rafales’ main contender in China’s People’s Liberation Army Airforce would be the Chengdu J-20.  The fighter plane is highly rated by the Chinese media and pitched as fifth-generation stealth fighter against the Rafales’ 4.5 generation lineage.

  • The J-20 proclaims itself as a proponent of stealth the ‘canards’ in front and additional external hardpoints for extra fuel tanks would shatter much of its claims in this department.
  • The J-20 carries the PL series of missiles with the PL 15 matching up with the Meteor in terms of range. As per the last reports, the PL 21 with enhanced range was yet to be operationalised.