^^^^^^^^^
Take heart westtowel!
Even though a Rafale proponent myself, I can assure you
that the Typhoon is a very good fighter in its own right.
AND, it is present over Libya!
What favors the Rafale in that campaign is of time's nature.
The EF is in service with countries that are still using the
trusted high-low mix in their fighter fleets.
As such, development/integration of its capacities is a quite
complicated affair.
The UK seems to have the clearer timeschedule for it which
comes from their expectation to rely on a duo EF/F-35 soon.
But at the same time, the RAF uses it as an interceptor first
as the good ol' Tornados ( Gr 4 mostly ) can do bomb duties.
In varying degrees the same can be said of the other EF nations.
Let's remember that air dominance was central to the concept
and project that became the Typhoon whereas the Raffy was
intended as an omnirole machine from the start.
In this light, it is but normal that it reaches AtoG FOC first, see!
The EF is supposed to be
as multirole as it is designed to be only
by 2015-18 as things stand and then mostly for Great Britain.
Now, right now, the Rafale is mature if not finished developing
in all capacities which is only normal.
Good day all, Tay.