Rafale vs JF-17 Thunder: Can the new Rafale aircraft purchased from France give India an air superiority over Pakistan?

After India received five more Rafale aircraft from France, the debate has once again intensified as to whether these modern aircraft are better than the JF-17 Thunder made in Pakistan. Under the agreement with the French government, India is to receive a total of 36 Rafale aircraft, six of which have already arrived in India.

What are the capabilities of Rafale?

Rafale is capable of firing nuclear missiles. It can be fitted with two types of missiles, one with a range of 150 km and the other with a range of about 300 km. Equipped with nuclear weapons, the Rafale can fire missiles up to 150 km in the air and has a range of 300 km from the air to the ground. According to raffle maker Dassault Aviation, the speed limit for Raffle is 2020 km per hour.

Rafale landing in India

The aircraft is 5.30 meters high and 15.30 meters long and can be refueled in the air. Rafale has so far been used in operations in countries such as Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syria. The Rafale is capable of observing up, down, right and left, meaning its visibility is 360 degrees.
Indian defense analyst Maroof Raza says that because of Rafale’s features, it can be called a ‘force multiplier’. He says Rafale’s flying range is much larger than normal fighter jets. It can land in mountainous areas and small places, as well as on landing aircraft carriers.

What are the capabilities of JF-17 Thunder?

The JF-17 Thunder fighter jet is also important to Pakistan because Pakistan manufactures it itself. Pakistan has acquired the capability to build these aircraft with the help of China and according to experts, this aircraft is a versatile, lightweight, fourth generation multi-role aircraft.

The aircraft’s manufacturing, upgrading and ‘overhauling’ facilities are also available within the country. This means that Pakistan does not need any other country to ensure the preparation of this aircraft. The story begins in 1995 when Pakistan and China signed a memorandum of understanding on JF-17. The first test model of the aircraft was developed in 2003, and the Pakistan Air Force added the JF-17 Thunder to its fleet for the first time in 2010. According to experts, the JF Thunder is a lightweight like F-16, as well as a versatile aircraft that can hit the ground and air targets in all weather conditions, which is equipped with long-range missiles.

Landing of JF-17 Thunder

The JF-17 Thunder is equipped with state-of-the-art radar, which is also considered to be a great feature of the Rafale. The aircraft is capable of firing missiles by locking the target. The JF-17 Thunder is capable of surveillance on the ground and air combat as well as ground attack.
The aircraft is capable of using weapons other than air-to-ground, air-to-air and surface-to-surface missile systems.

Former Air Marshal (retd) Shahid Latif told that the special thing about JF-17s is that they are being manufactured inside Pakistan. He says now India has to look to France in a difficult situation. If something goes wrong, then India will have to turn to France every time. According to him, Pakistan has acquired the capability to build as many aircraft as it wants. Shahid Latif says that more than 100 JF-17s have been prepared and handed over to the Air Force.

In December 2018, Pakistan had built 112 JF aircraft, while work is underway on 76 more. Pakistan has the capacity to build 24 JF-17 aircraft in a year. The design life of the JF-17 is said to be 4,000 hours or 25 years. According to experts,  due to the radar system installed in this aircraft, JF-17 Thunder can detect 15 targets simultaneously as well as hit four targets at the same time.