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| Chengdu J-20 vs Rafale comparison (Photo Credit The Quint) |
In 2016, India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36-Rafale jets at a cost ₹ 59,000 crore.
The Indian Air Force inducted its first batch of Dassault Rafale fighter planes on 10 September. Following their induction into the 17th squadron, Golden Arrows (Ambala Airbase), the Rafale will be one of the IAF's most advanced aircraft in its fighter fleet.
IAF Chief RKS Bhadauria and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have said the country would have the entire fleet of the fighter aircraft by April 2022.
In the context of the recent troop and fighter plane deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), here is a comparison of the Rafale with its equivalent in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).
PLAAF operates a range of fighter planes, including Sukhoi SU-27, SU-30MKK and SU-35S, Chengdu J-7 and Chengdu J-10. But since Rafale is one of the most technologically advanced aircraft of the IAF, it is only fair to compare it with the Chengdu J-20, China's most advanced fighter aircraft.
Rafale and J-20 Specifications:-
Comparison | Rafale | Chengdu J-20 |
Manufacturing country | France | China |
Manufacturing Company | Dassault Aviation | Chengdu Aerospace Corporation |
Engine | Double Engine | Double Engine |
Seats | Single/ Double Seater | Single Seater |
Maximum speed | 2222 km per hour | 2100 km per hour |
Generation | 4.5th | 5th |
Measurement of the Jet | Rafael has a height of 5.30 meters, length 15.30 meters and wingspan 10.90 meters. | Its height is 4.45 m, length 20.4mtr and wingspan is 12.88 to 13.50 mtr. |
Missiles in the Jet | In Rafale, the Meteor missile (radar-guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles) can hit upto 150 km, the SCALP missile can hit up to 300 km on the ground. Now HAMMER missile will be installed soon. | PL-15 missiles (radar-guided air-to-air missiles) can hit up to 200 km and PL-21 missiles (beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles) can hit up to 400 km. |
Ceiling capacity | 300 meters per second | 304 meters per second |
Service ceiling | 50000 Feet | 65600 Feet |
Load carrying capacity | 24,500 KGS | 37000 KGS |
Combat radius | 3700 KM | 3400 KM |
AESA Radar | AESA radar RBE2 AA radar has a 200 km detection range. | Officially not declared but according to analyst and based on nose cross-section of J-20 and known data about a single transmit/receive module surface in the J-16's AESA radar-system, J-20s likely has a 2000–2200 transmit/receive modules AESA radar. |
What are Rafale Jets? Can Rafale beat J20?
The Dassault Rafale is a French twin-engine, canard delta wing, omnirole and air superiority fighter aircraft and considered to be in the 4.5 generation category. The J-20 is a single-seat, twin-jet, all-weather, stealthy jet. The Chinese claim it to be 5th generation fighter aircraft developed by China’s Chengdu Aerospace Corporation.
The arrival of Rafale jets comes amid escalating border tension between India and China along the Line of Actual Control near Eastern Ladakh. Although China claims air superiority over India, the induction of Rafale fighter aircraft into the Indian Air Force could give India much-needed confidence to take on PLAAF J-20 5th generation aircraft.
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| Chengdu J-20 jet near Ladakh border (Photo Credit Wionews) |
J20 vs Rafale stealth capabilities
The stealth characteristics of the China’s J-20 are also under suspicion, say experts based on several analysis done by the Indian Air Force. The J-20 was hyped to be a highly stealthy aircraft and that it could conceal itself in operations and not be easily detected but recently Chinese communist party mouthpiece The Global Times itself has accepted J-20 is a 4th generation fighter jet.
The claims, made by an ‘expert’ in Chinese Communist Party’s tabloid Global Times, said that the Rafale was only superior to the IAF’s Sukhoi-30 MKI jets but a generation below Chinese PLA’s J-20 fighter.
“It is only about one-fourth of a generation more advanced and does not yield a significant qualitative change,” Zhang Xuefeng, who was described by the communist party’s propaganda website as a Chinese military expert, said.
The website, quoting unnamed experts claimed, that “Rafale is only a third-plus generation fighter jet, and does not stand much of a chance against a stealth, fourth generation one like the J-20”.
Ex-IAF chief Dhanoa, who has described the 4.5 generation Rafale fighter jets as a “game changer for the IAF, responded to the Chinese claim with “two simple questions”.
“If the J-20, also called the Mighty Dragon, is indeed a fifth generation stealth fighter, then why does it have canards while genuine 5th generation fighters such as the US’ F 22, F 35 and Russian fifth generation Su 57 don’t,” Dhanoa asked.
Additionally, IAF Su-30 Mki radar has also detected J-20 blowing its stealth claim.
As per IAF experts, Rafale holds major superiority over J20 in terms of engine, air defence, combat capabilities, higher weapon load, battle experience and lethal missile power. "Rafale is far superior to the J-20, the Chengdu fighter of China. Even though it's believed to be a 5th generation fighter it is probably at best a 3.5 generation aircraft. It's got a third-generation engine as we have in the Sukhoi," said Air Marshal R Nambiar (retd), who flight-tested the Rafale fighter jets for India.
Though stealth characteristics of the J20 are believed to be superior, its weapon system capabilities are no match to Rafale, say experts. Additionally, Rafale is a semi-stealth and has a reduced radar cross section (RCS). Also, China going for Russian Su35 fighter shows J20's air capabilities are not at par with Rafale. "Su 35 is also no match to the Rafale. Capability to supercruise even with four missiles, stealth characteristics all put together make the Rafale far more potent than Su 35 also," Nambiar added.
Rafale active and passive sensors have capabilities to detect stealth planes like F-22 Raptor, F-35 lightning II, J-20 etc. Recently, during a mock drill in UAE Rafale has sucessfully detected and locked F-22 Raptor stealth plane.
J20 vs Rafale - Avionics and AESA Radar
Rafale fighter's AESA RBE2 AA radar detection range is more than 200 Km. It is able to track 40 planes or other targets and engage eight of them simultaneously within a 140° angular domain. Regarding J-20 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, China has not released any data regarding this. According to defence analysts speculation, J-20s likely has a 2000–2200 transmit/receive modules AESA radar.
Rafale SPECTRA electronic suite gives it good electronic warfare capability. Due to SPECTRA it has good jamming and counter jamming capabilities. It is one of the few platforms, which can beat S400 and S300 SAM systems.
Rafale and J20 both have reduced infrared signature.
J20 vs Rafale: Firepower
The J20 uses the same engine as SU-30 Mki so the thrust-to-weight ratio is not favourable but the Rafale's engine is better in terms of "reliability, longevity and maintainability". Rafale's combat abilities are also much superior to the J20. Rafale is capable of carrying load up to 1.5 times its weight, giving it superiority to carry more ammunition than the J20. The biggest difference between Rafale and J20 is its "omni role" capability, which allows it to go out on at least four missions in one sortie. The J20, on the other hand, isn't able to carry out that many missions at one go.
Last-minute additions to Rafale include HAMMER, meteor, MICA and scalp missiles give it dominance over skies and superiority over the J20. While meteor is a beyond visual range (about 150 km) air-to-air missile, the scalp is a long-range cruise missile with a range of 200 km. Both of these missiles can carry out deep strikes against the enemy aircraft and targets on land.
Both planes carry out nuclear deterrance missions.
Rafale vs J20 - Empty Weight and Payload
The
Rafales are much lighter in weight than the J-20s and are capable
of carrying more fuel, payloads and weapons in all sort of altitudes and
terrain. The empty weight of Rafale ranges from 9900 kg to 10600 kg
depending on the variant and a maximum take-off weight of around 24500
kg.Meanwhile, the Chinese J-20 are much more heavier with empty weight of
over 19,000 kg and maximum take-off weight of 37,013 kg.
“It can
lift load up to 1.5 times its weight, which means it can carry weapons
and fuel and has much more capacity than the J-20,” said an IAF official.
Rafale vs J20 BVR Capabilities
Both Rafale and J20 carry advanced weapons like Meteor and PL-15. In BVR fight again Rafale will win. Rafale with its RBE AA AESA can easily get a passive lock over J20 and shoot it down with Meteor BVR missile. Though PL-15 has more range than Meteor but it can only shoot slow moving targets like AWACS and aerial refuellers. On the contrary, Meteors can shoot highly agile fighters like SU-27, SU-30 and cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Rafale vs J20 combat performance
Another
big difference is the battle experience. Rafale is an extremely
experienced aircraft, used widely in war missions in Afghanistan, Libya,
Mali and Syria. The J20 has no such experience.
While the IAF will ensure pilots, ground crew and Rafale aircraft remain operationally ready as soon as Rafale lands in India, it also believes the new fighter can't be deployed along the border immediately. The Rafale will first be used extensively in Indian conditions in order to develop new tactics and operational capabilities.
J-17 jets for Pakistan
China has also "outsourced" the technology to its ally Pakistan with the country using the JF-17 jets. There were reports of Pakistan having got the first batch of J-17 jets from China.
The JF-17 jets were reportedly used by Pakistan Air Force in the aftermath of India's surgical strike at Balakot last year.
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