India rafale is a 4.5 generation stealth aircraft that can take on a wide variety of missions. It is a powerful fighter-jet that can also carry a range potent weapons such as MBDA’s Meteor beyond vision range air-to–air missile, Scalp missile and MICA weapons.
This multirole aircraft can be used to perform air defense, ground attack, and carrier strikes. It has an advanced radar and electronic warfare system that can detect enemy aircraft at very close range.
The aircraft is expected to last around 20 years. Maintenance costs are also low. This plane is of the 4.5 generation and can carry long-range air to air and ground missiles, as well as advanced radar and electronic warfare capabilities.
Rafale has been used in many countries. France, for instance, has deployed the Rafale-M on its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, while Egypt has also purchased a number of the planes.
Indian military officials were impressed by the Rafale made in France, which was deployed over Ladakh to aid the country's fight against China. It is expected it to play a key role in the conflict involving the two nations.
Former IAF chief BS Dhanoa praised Rafale's "game-changer" status. 36 Rafale aircraft are expected to be delivered by French company Dassault Aviation. Dhanoa told Hindustan Times that the aircraft has been flown operationally and that the aircraft performed well.
It will likely replace the IAF's older Tejas, Mirage-2000 multirole fighter jets. Dhanoa stated that it is expected to cost Rs 60,000 crore and could serve for up to 30 years.
IAF also sought a marine version for its Rafale to mount on its indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vicent. Dassault Aviation demonstrated a model from its naval variant during the Aero India 2023 exhibition in Bengaluru.
India's air force is in need of a modernised fleet that can counter China's growing power and keep its borders safe. Its current fleet consists of 30 Tejas Mark 1(multirole), 51 Mirage2000s, 99 SEPECAT Jaguars, and 36 Rafale fighter jets for air defense and ground attack.
But it is still searching for a suitable ship-borne aircraft that can match the Chinese jets. The IAF has also been considering the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter from the US, which can be deployed on aircraft carriers.
Earlier this week, a Chinese Communist Party propaganda website claimed that the Indian jets have no chance against China's J-20 stealth fighter. It was an inflamatory stance that experts from the Indian military have denied.
An article on the Global Times website by a Chinese military expert claims that Rafale fighters were only one fourth of a generation ahead than China's J-20. This is not a qualitative improvement.
India had placed an order for Rafale at over eight billion Euros. It sparked controversy in India. Opposition politicians claimed that they were paid bribes to secure the deal behind closed door doors. But the Supreme Court has ruled that the deal was valid and dismissed review petitions in November 2019.