Dassault Rafale, tender | News & Discussions

[SpArK]

Not directly related to MRCA.. but an interesting development.

Boeing EA-18G Growlers Deployed by US Navy​

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 17, 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack aircraft have been deployed for the first time by the U.S. Navy.

"The men and women of Boeing are honored to see this new capability directly benefit the nation’s brave servicemembers around the world," said Kory Mathews, vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs for Boeing. "The airborne electronic attack capability that the EA-18G brings to the fight is in high demand, so we are committed to continuing to deliver these aircraft to the Navy on budget and on schedule, just as we have with every F/A-18E/F."

The EA-18G is the only air combat platform that delivers full-spectrum airborne electronic attack (AEA) capability along with the targeting and self-defense capabilities derived from the Navy's frontline fighter, the F/A-18E/F Block II Super Hornet. A derivative of the two-seat F/A-18F Block II, the EA-18G's highly flexible design enables warfighters to operate either from the deck of an aircraft carrier or from land-based airfields. It is replacing the Navy's current AEA platform, the EA-6B Prowler, which has been in service since 1971. The EA-18G joined the Navy's aircraft fleet in 2008, when it was introduced to fleet training squadron VAQ-129.

Boeing, acting as the weapon system integrator and prime contractor, leads the EA-18G Growler industry team, which also includes Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and General Electric Aircraft Engines.

Boeing EA-18G Growlers Deployed by US Navy - CombatAircraft.com

 

[SpArK]

 

[sudhir007]

 

[sancho]

You did not answer the question I posed earlier, if Spectra or Rafale is not transmitting how is it able to provide mid course updates to MICA?
I have no trouble acknowledging that spectra is able to detect a emitter passively this is not unique to the Rafale - all MMRCA fighters have that ability.

Stationary surface emitters can be attacked using target coordinates provided by Spectra prior to AASM release - but aerial targets are highly mobile. How does Spectra send mid course updates without emitting? Unless the missile seeker acquires the target before launch (close range active BVR shot).

You claim EuroFighters RWR is active? the words Radar Warning Receiver(RWR) implies the RWR receives emissions therefore is PASSIVE.

Actually I did, it is using passive sensors, like the IRST, MICA IR seekers, SPECTRA interferometry and RW receivers..., SPECTRA uses infos from all sensors to detect, identify and geolocate radars. Here is an excerpt from an old (early 2000s) Aviation Week week article, of an US journalist that explains it quiet well, how Rafale engage passively in an A2A combat:

Aviation Week & Space Technology
Page 1 of 6
Rafale To Offer Multirole Mission Capability
DAVID M. NORTH/ISTRES, FRANCE


...Camus sees the Rafale using multiple sensors on a typical combat mission. The first task would be the compilation of all the intelligence data into the mission planning system to be shown in the aircraft's large center display. The next sequence would be for recent data link information from other aircraft or AWACS to be fed into the tactical display. Thomson is working on a data link system for the Rafale that is very similar to the Multifunction Information Distribution System (MIDS), and can either be used as a stand-alone system or used with NATO equipment.

Still staying passive, the Rafale's Spectre Defensive Aid Sub-System (DASS) electronic system designed by Thomson and Matra would be able to pick up enemy radars in excess of 200 naut. mi. [imo that's a typo and he meant Km, but it doesn't really matter, because the performance is twice as good] and give location and identification. The Spectre also offers laser and IR missile launch detector, as well as digital solid-state jammer.

The next system likely to be used in a combat flight would be the Front Sector Optronics System, which features a wide angle IR sensor and a long-focal-length CCD camera. Both of these displays were shown to me in the simulator. The IR detection has the longer range and also identification capability. Once a target is picked up by the IR system, the camera is slaved along the same axis and the target is shown on the display. Identification of a target from the camera display is more accurate than IR, Camus said.

At this point in an engagement, the pilot could then activate the radar to get a firing envelope for the Rafale's air-toair, medium-range Mica EM missiles...

That shows the difference behind the development of Rafales sensors and other fighters imo, they paid way more time and money in the development of SPECTRA (€3 billion Euros) as well as alternative sensors, other than radar, to use all their infos to achieve better SA, including weapon guidance capabilities.

Sorry, my fault mixed RWR with the active MAWs of EF. The RWR don't emit, but unlike SPECTRA, the DASS is neither fully passive, nor has interferometry sensors it can give a bearing, but not an accurate location to guide weapons. There is something rumored about enhanced capabilities in T3, for similar SEAD capabilities like Rafale already has, but just like many other things on the EF, nothing is cleared so far.
Btw, MICA IR has lock after launch capability and can be updated via data link conncetion. Another one of these out of the box developments of the French!

No matter if one like them or not, one has to admit that they have very creative solutions for such problems. When everybody tried to find a good compromise between A2A and A2G capabilities, they made a true multi role fighter.
SPECTRA (although still very less about it is known) is way more than a simple self protection suit and combines defensive and offensive capabilities (not only detecting threats, but locate and guide weapons at them, let alone the AESA jamming features).
MICA EM might not have the range of Aim 120, but is more maneuverable, MICA IR, might not have the same off boresight like Aim 9, but offers BVR ranges and a simultaneous attack with both types should be hard to counter.
Similar can be said about AASM, it is similar to JDAM, but combined with the rocket bosster, more a missile than a PGM and therefor offers higher ranges. The capability to fire it off axis makes it more versatile and it's already more precise with up to 1m CEP and vertical strike capabilities.
They all have only one big problem, the costs are high, because of small numbers that will be produced! Really sad that Germany and Spain didn't join Rafale development instead of EF, would have been way better for them, as well as France.

 

[sancho]

A good example to see where Saab is doing some tricks to let the specs look better than they really are!

Gripen C/D:

MTOW 14000 Kg - (minus) internal fuel 2400Kg - empty weight 6800Kg => 4800Kg left for payload, not 5300Kg

The latest specsheet on their official website says:

GRIPEN DIMENSIONS

Weights
Empty weight 6.8 tonnes
Internal fuel >2.0 tonnes
Total load capacity 5.3 tonnes
Max take-off weight 14.0 tonnes

http://www.saabgroup.com/Global/Doc...en/Gripen product sheet/Gripen_Dimensions.pdf


So 5300Kg payload yes, but only with reduced internal fuel!


Same can be said about Gripen NG:

MTOW 16500 Kg - (minus) internal fuel 3360Kg - empty weight 7100Kg => 6040Kg left for payload, not 7200Kg like they claim now.
The higher payload is again only possible by reducing the internal fuel!

 

[jha]

HAL dismisses doubts about ability to work on advanced fighter programmes

Bangalore: Senior officials at the Bangalore based Defence Public Sector Unit (DPSU) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited have dismissed reported concerns about its ability to handle advanced fighter programmes in partnership with American firms, citing its considerable experience with both the Russians and the British, on programmes like the Sukhoi-30 MKI and the Hawk 100 Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT).

The British newspaper The Financial Times (FT), reported on Friday that the US Ambassador to India, Timothy Roemer, in a confidential cable last year, had said that “the potential for HAL to successfully partner with US firms on a truly advanced aircraft remains untested and suspect.” The cable, leaked by WikiLeaks, was seen by FT, the paper said.

After a visit to HAL in February last year, the ambassador had described India’s aviation industry as “two to three decades behind the United States and other Western nations,” in the cable.

American firms Boeing and Lockheed Martin are among those vying for the estimated $11 billion deal to supply 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) for the Indian Air Force, offering the F-18 Super Hornet and F-16 Super Viper fighters respectively.

Competitors include a European consortium’s Eurofighter Typhoon, the Russian Mig-35, the French Rafale from Dassault Aviation and the Swedish SAAB Gripen.

HAL’s N.C. Agarwal, director Design and Development at HAL’s design complex in Bangalore, said: “If the Americans really thought in this fashion, it is self-contradictory to find them in the fray for the MMRCA deal. There need be no doubt about HAL’s ability to work with any partner. After all, the Sukhoi-30 licensed production programme (with the Russians) is for an aircraft as advanced or more in terms of its structure and aerodynamics, in comparison to the F-18 Hornet.”

He acknowledged that India was indeed behind the US in pure technological terms. “But there is a lot of advanced work going on here even in avionics and other sub-systems. The world’s companies are coming here because of the talent and the brain power. The systems in place are catching up,” he said.

Ashok Baweja, former chairman of HAL, said: “What are they (the Americans) talking about? HAL has been making advanced aircraft for decades, starting with the Americans themselves in 1942.” HAL can do what is necessary to take on the MMRCA work, he said.

Another senior HAL official at Bangalore, who requested anonymity, said: “These reported comments are quite surprising, considering the amount of work with the Americans that is in the pipeline. One need not read too much into it. There is also the fact that with so many vendors in the fray for the MMRCA, you’ll find each one trying to pull the other down with all kinds of leaks,” he said.

The Ambassador, in his cable, had not ruled out cooperation but said that “US companies need to approach partnerships carefully.” He also cited problems in the production of the Hawk 100 with the British BAE Systems.

US firm General Electric is in partnership with the Aeronautical Development Agency to supply GE-404 engines for the LCA Tejas, and recently won a tender to supply more powerful GE-414 engines for the LCA Mk-II.

HAL dismisses doubts about ability to work on advanced fighter programmes - Economy and Politics - livemint.com

 

[dbc]

Similar can be said about AASM, it is similar to JDAM, but combined with the rocket bosster, more a missile than a PGM and therefor offers higher ranges. The capability to fire it off axis makes it more versatile and it's already more precise with up to 1m CEP and vertical strike capabilities.
They all have only one big problem, the costs are high, because of small numbers that will be produced! Really sad that Germany and Spain didn't join Rafale development instead of EF, would have been way better for them, as well as France.

The EuroFighter will use AGM-154, the AGM-154 D/E variants are rocket propelled similar to the French Sagem AASM's. The AGM-154 meets and in some cases exceeds the capabilities of the Sagem AASM's.

F-16, F-15E, F/A-18, B-2, B-52, P-3, F-35 (JSF), JAS 39 Gripen,
Eurofighter 2000, Tornado


http://www.raytheon.com/capabilitie...ups/public/documents/content/cms01_055754.pdf

Actually I did, it is using passive sensors, like the IRST, MICA IR seekers, SPECTRA interferometry and RW receivers..., SPECTRA uses infos from all sensors to detect, identify and geolocate radars. Here is an excerpt from an old (early 2000s) Aviation Week week article, of an US journalist that explains it quiet well, how Rafale engage passively in an A2A combat:

Again I'm not disputing SPECTRA's ability to DETECT or LOCATE emitters, I am disputing your claim of passive mid course guidance, how does the Rafale transmit mid course guidance data to MICA or METEOR post launch while remaining at EMCON 1.

Your exact words were .....

Rafale is hard to detect too, because it has a low RCS and don't emits any signals. They guided their MICA missiles with SPECTRA EWS, after identifying the opponent with the TV channel of FSO, all completely passive without even the need to use the radar.

http://www.defence.pk/forums/india-defence/4347-mrca-news-discussions-281.html#post1490866

On paper, both EuroFighter and Rafale have similar capabilities in terms of ESM, passive attack and self defense with one exception - the towed decoy. Towed decoy is extremely effective against both radar and IR guided threats for SEAD/DEAD/CAS missions - towed decoy increase survivability by significantly reducing Pk,Ph and Pf. The Rafale successfully neutralized Soviet era SAM's at Nellis during RedFlag '08 but without towed decoy it is more vulnerable than the EuroFighter against more modern air defense threats.

Assuming SPECTRA works as advertised, I still don't see it as having a significant advantage over similar EuroFighter systems. BAE developed many of the targeting, self defense and data acquisition systems for the F-35 Lightening it isn't far fetched to assume that these systems may become available to EuroFighter customers in the future.

 

[KEETARP]

[sancho wrote]
Rafale is hard to detect too, because it has a low RCS and don't emits any signals

On the contrary it does

[ DBC wrote ]
Again I'm not disputing SPECTRA's ability to DETECT or LOCATE emitters, I am disputing your claim of passive mid course guidance, how does the Rafale transmit mid course guidance data to MICA or METEOR post launch while remaining at EMCON 1.

He is shying away from replying , bcoz Rafale lacks this capabilty .
And why I am not surprised at this ????

A Fighter can not provide Mid-course guidance to missile passively , it must transmit .
Only thing that can be managed is by - power management, frequency agility and tight beam control (with small sidelobes)
, in a way transmitting as little as possible ( LPI mode i mean ) .

Harris Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) on the F-35 + Joint Tactical Information Display System (JTIDS) on F22 , do come close to LPI datalink in theory. ,
But practically such low amount of data is transmitted in LPI mode , it beats the sole purpose of having advanced sensors such as APG77 with huge amount of imagery and mapping data . This is why F22 still function in Link16 grid receivers

And certainly no such thing exists in Rafale , .

 

[dbc]

On the contrary it does



He is shying away from replying , bcoz Rafale lacks this capabilty .
And why I am not surprised at this ????

A Fighter can not provide Mid-course guidance to missile passively , it must transmit .
Only thing that can be managed is by - power management, frequency agility and tight beam control (with small sidelobes)
, in a way transmitting as little as possible ( LPI mode i mean ) .

Harris Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) on the F-35 + Joint Tactical Information Display System (JTIDS) on F22 , do come close to LPI datalink in theory. ,
But practically such low amount of data is transmitted in LPI mode , it beats the sole purpose of having advanced sensors such as APG77 with huge amount of imagery and mapping data . This is why F22 still function in Link16 grid receivers

And certainly no such thing exists in Rafale , .

Welcome back Lieutenant PRATEEK I hope you brought a cure for Rafalefanboitis

 

[sancho]

The EuroFighter will use AGM-154, the AGM-154 D/E variants are rocket propelled similar to the French Sagem AASM's. The AGM-154 meets and in some cases exceeds the capabilities of the Sagem AASM's.

Not really, stand off weapons for EF include only Storm Shadow and Taurus, whenever they will be integrated. The partner countries have these weapons already, mainly on their Tornados, besides AASM is more comparable to JDAM and JDAM ER.

Again I'm not disputing SPECTRA's ability to DETECT or LOCATE emitters, I am disputing your claim of passive mid course guidance, how does the Rafale transmit mid course guidance data to MICA or METEOR post launch while remaining at EMCON 1.

Already answered, via data link for example:

All MICA firing stations are fully BVR, operating MICA in both versions IR or RF with or without data link target updating.

Mica, mica missile, air to air missile, air missile system - MBDA

On paper, both EuroFighter and Rafale have similar capabilities in terms of ESM, passive attack and self defense with one exception - the towed decoy. Towed decoy is extremely effective against both radar and IR guided threats for SEAD/DEAD/CAS missions - towed decoy increase survivability by significantly reducing Pk,Ph and Pf. The Rafale successfully neutralized Soviet era SAM's at Nellis during RedFlag '08 but without towed decoy it is more vulnerable than the EuroFighter against more modern air defense threats.

Starting your speculations again? Rafale also impressed at NATO MACE exercise with SPECTRA and it capabilities in SEAD, just like during ATLC.
TD btw was considered for Rafale before, but the high performance of SPECTRAs AESA jaming and the reduced performance with TD extended were not worth it for Dassault.

Also just as you said, on paper the capabilities looks similar, but in reality they aren't because EF has no offensive weapon guidance capabilities via EWS, only detection and self defense. Or better, EF has no SEAD capability at all!

Assuming SPECTRA works as advertised, I still don't see it as having a significant advantage over similar EuroFighter systems. BAE developed many of the targeting, self defense and data acquisition systems for the F-35 Lightening it isn't far fetched to assume that these systems may become available to EuroFighter customers in the future.

We can assume many things, Dassault is working on active cancellation, stealthy weapon pods, LIDAR, 360° AESA radar detection and so on, but you don't see me claiming these things right?
As long as the EF partners didn't take a decision about T3A anything is just speculation. Bottom line is, so far and with all techs and capabilities cleared for EF, the Rafale is clearly superior in terms of tech level, weapon integration and upgrade stage and will most likely maintain this edge.

 

[sancho]

On the contrary it does



He is shying away from replying , bcoz Rafale lacks this capabilty .
And why I am not surprised at this ????

A Fighter can not provide Mid-course guidance to missile passively , it must transmit .

Hi Prateek, heared you are at Indian defense now. In passive mode, IRST, MICA seekers, SPECTRA, DDM, and data link what is emiting?

In addition to what the MBDA site said about MICA...:

On the weapons side, the F2/05 Rafale will carry the IR version of the MBDA MICA air-to-air missile. The Rafale is unique in being designed around a single missile, MICA, which has been developed in active-radar and IR versions. Both versions feature a data-link to provide mid-course guidance (like AMRAAM) and vectored thrust for short-range agility. Unlike other IR missiles, therefore, MICA can be launched before the seeker locks, on and can perform a completely silent beyond-visual-range attack.

Rafale, Dassault-Breguet


Have a nice weekend ladies and gents!

 

[the rafter]

Aero India: Indian Air Force May Be Nearing a Decision on Fighter: AINonline
February 18, 2011

India could benefit from the enhanced F/A-18 E/F Hornet, according to sources at the Aero India show.

A decision in the long-running Indian medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) competition could come as early as September, according to Air Chief Marshall Pradeep Naik, an Indian air force commander. Naik told the press at the Aero India show in Bangalore that the price bids would soon be unsealed so that contract negotiations for the 120-aircraft order could start. But there were other suggestions, from sources including the Indian defense minister, that the choice would not come until next year.
India recently revised its offset criteria, which has already delayed the MMRCA selection process, and caused the manufacturers of the contenders to beef up their industrial co-operation offers. Contenders are the Boeing F/A-18E/F, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-16, MiG-35 and Saab Gripen. No down-select from these six has been announced. According to news reports, Naik said all six vendors "meet 95 percent of the requirements."
In a briefing at the show, Boeing noted that India could benefit from the proposed enhancements to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet that were first revealed at the Farnborough Airshow last July. Eurofighter showed a model of the Typhoon for the Navy, which features thrust-vector control and conformal fuel tanks, that it said could fly from Indiaπs ski-jump carrier.

 

[dbc]

Also just as you said, on paper the capabilities looks similar, but in reality they aren't because EF has no offensive weapon guidance capabilities via EWS, only detection and self defense. Or better, EF has no SEAD capability at all!

Electroptic sensors have been in production since the early 60's. You may want to read up on TV-Martel, Martel AJ-168 was manually controlled from the launch aircraft via TV imagery and data link while the Martel AS-37 relied on passive radar homing.

Your suggestion that the EuroFighter lacks the ability to passively cue A2A or A2G munitions is incredulous, even more so when you consider the technology was pioneered by a British firm in the 60's. The simple fact is that the EuroFighter armed with AGM-65 Maverick a 70's missile which supports a variety of electrooptical sensors gives the EuroFighter passive attack capability. In addition, PIRATE and DAS both have the ability to cue ground/air targets so I don't really understand why you continue to claim that the Rafale has unique passive attack capability?

A state-of-the-art implementation of IRSTS is the passive infrared airborne tracking equipment (PIRATE) developed by the EUROFIRST consortium which will be fitted to the Eurofighter Typhoon. Figure 5.20 shows the PIRATE unit and the installation on Typhoon of the left side of the fuselage. The equipment uses dual-band sensing operating
in the 3–5 and 8–11 mm bands. The MWIR sensor offers greater sensitivity against hot targets such as jet engine efflux, while the LWIR sensor is suited to lower temperatures associated with frontal engagements. The unit uses linear 760  10 arrays with scan motors
driving optics such that large volumes of sky may be rapidly scanned.

The field of regard (FOR) is stated to be almost hemispherical in coverage. The detection range is believed to be 40 nm

The operational modes of PIRATE are:
1. Air-to-air:

Multiple-target tracking (MTT) over a hemispherical FOR – the ability to track in excess of 200 individual targets, with a tracking accuracy better than 0.25 mrad;

Single-target track (STT) mode for individual targets for missile cueing and launch;

Single-target track and identification (STTI) for target identification prior to launch, providing a high-resolution image and a back-up to identification friend or foe (IFF).
2. Air-to-ground:

Ability to cue ground targets from C3 data;

Landing aid in poor weather;

Navigation aid in FLIR mode, allowing low-level penetration.

http://www.helitavia.com/books/Mil Av Sys/Wiley - Military Avionics Systems.pdf

Not really, stand off weapons for EF include only Storm Shadow and Taurus.

JSOW is part of EuroFighter's weapons suite, the image above and the Raytheon brochure confirms AIM-154 JSOW can be launched by the EuroFighter.

http://www.raytheon.com/capabilitie...ups/public/documents/content/cms01_055754.pdf

 

[GORKHALI]

MILITARY AVIATION AND SPACE TECHNOLOGY NEWS: Raytheon reveals first glimpse of next-generation missile


Raytheon reveals first glimpse of next-generation missile
SOURCE ADMIN
Raytheon has offered the first peek into the company's approach to designing a next generation missile to replace both the AIM-120 AMRAAM and AGM-88 HARM.

For the first time, the company has displayed a full-scale mock-up of one of several candidates being considered for the emerging US Air Force requirement for a dual role air dominance missile (DRADM).

The design shown at the Air Warfare Sympsoium on 16-17 February features an AMRAAM-like missile body integrated with what appears to be a variable flow ducted rocket (VFDR), or ramjet.


In 2004, Raytheon commissioned Aerojet to demonstrate a VFDR propulsion system on an AMRAAM for a contract sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory. Raytheon acknowledges the influence of the VFDR demonstration.

"This model incorporates lessons learned from VFDR," Raytheon says. "However, the requirements haven't been established yet, so the model you see is one of several possibilities in consideration."

Raytheon and Boeing received separate contracts from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) late last year to work on a next generation missile. The triple target terminator (T3) programme is aimed at hitting three types of targets - aircraft, cruise missiles and ground-based radars.

For two years, Boeing has displayed a conventional, solid rocket-powered missile at major trade shows as its DRADM concept. The 18cm (7in)-diameter mock-up for a next generation missile also was shown at Boeing's booth in the exhibit hall.

In addition to the DARPA work, Boeing also is known to have received three contracts from AFRL to develop three key technologies for a next-generation air dominance missile.

These include adaptable warheads that increase the lethal distance of the weapon, sensors that also serve as fuses for the warhead and reaction jet controls that allow the missile to intercept targets behind the launching platform.

The USAF had previously intended to launch full development of DRADM in Fiscal 2014, but the Pentagon's latest budget request may allow the service to accelerate contract award to 2013.

Speaking to the symposium audience on 16 February, Gen William Fraser, head of Air Combat Command, noted that the appearance of China's Chengdu J-20 underscores the need for key modernization programmes, including a next generation missile.

 

[sancho]

I don't really understand why you continue to claim that the Rafale has unique passive attack capability?

Simply because you don't want to, otherwise you would ask the same questions that you asked for Rafale and SPECTRA, for EF and DASS as well!
For example how can DASS locate the target accurately and provide weapon guidance? That's the point it can't, you just assume and speculate (like in most of your posts), because as you said before, on paper the capabilities looks similar.
Same for PIRATE and A2G weapon cueing, but not based on DASS data, because DASS can only detect and classify, but not geolocate the targets like SPECTRA can:

Passive detection

An alternative method is to use an on-board passive system for detection. The PIRATE, or Passive Infra Red Airborne Tracking Equipment is a 2nd generation Imaging Infra Red (IIR) system and performs this duty of passive detection. PIRATE is constructed by the EuroFirst consortium led by Pilkington-Thorn Optronics (now Thales Optronics)...

...In Slave Acquisition the use of off-board sensors is made with PIRATE being commanded by data obtained from an AWACS for example.

Not to forget the most important point is still, EF lacks the weapons to do so!
Btw, it doesn't matter what weapons were on offer, or planned for EF at the begining of the development, only what weapons are, or will be integrated. Those pics and links that you post to distract doesn't mean anything, because 90% of those weapons, or even pods are and will not be available, especially not the US weapons! The only US weapon that is intended to be integrated in future is JDAM, because the partner countries opted for that weapons, but neither JSOW, nor Maverick will will be, which just once again shows how pointless your speculations are.

Bottom line is:

- Rafale can cue weapons in A2A and A2G guided by SPECTRA, EF can't do it
- combined with MICA, AASM, FSO and data links it gives advantages in BVR and SEAD
- in passive mode (IRST, SPECTRA, data links) it don't emit signals, which makes it harder to detect
- SPECTRA AESA jamming has proven itself and impressed in several exercises, to be very effective against anykind of ground threat, which makes Towed Decoy not needed
- Rafale is already a true multi role fighter, unlike EF, which is meant for air superiority and hardly has CAS qualities so far
- Rafale is more useful for multi roles than EF, especially for deep penetration strikes, because it has less limitations by design, or development flaws (no dedicated LDP station, with the LDP on the centerline station, no 2000lb PGM can be used unless CFTs will be developed, or it gets external guidance, only 3 heavy/wet stations, which limits the carriage of weapons and fuel)


EF remains to be an excellent A2A fighter, but with the same capabilities and for the same role that MKI and FGFA are meant for. Rafale instead, is more versatile and offers additional capabilities, that complements them, not compete with them. Add the other operational advantages and there should be no doubt which fighter should be prefered by Indian forces.