The F-16 Block 72 with Aim-120C7 and Aim-9X II should still be potent enough to deal with the Rafale threat, if we can couple them with a Growler type platform based on the JF-17B.
The goal is to prevent the enemy from being able to engage from the Meteors maximum NEZ and forcing the plane in closer. Where F-16’s short ranged Aim-120C7 will have more of a chance to achieve a kill
Even if we can procure only 18-24 Block 72, but also buy a large number of used F-16s (which we could upgrade) to replace our Mirages, we should be set for a while.
With the new Biden Administration we should see if Turkey can get back into the F-35 program, and as they start getting the 100+ F-35s, we should see if we can procure the F-16s they plan to retire (after a SLEP and a AESA MLU). 24 new Block 72 and 100 ex-Turkish AESA F-16s along with an upgrade of our current 75 F-16s to the V standard or Turkish AESA standard, should give us back the qualitative and quantitative ability to defend ourselves and wait another decade until project AZM is ready. This along with inducting 50-100 more JF-17s should allow us to finally retire the Mirages and F-7s, and field enough squadrons to defend against the IAF with enough planes all along the border.