China's J-20 Fighter Aircraft vs Rafale Aircraft Which one is Better ?

The five French Rafale fighter jets arrived at Ambala airbase in Haryana on July 29 after covering a distance of nearly 7,000 km to join the Indian Air Force. Seen as India’s first major acquisition of fighter jets in over two decades, the Rafales are expected to significantly boost IAF’s capabilities.

In terms of comparison, the Rafale is more capable than Pakistan's F-16 or China's J-20, an aircraft that is yet to see combat. According to former IAF chief BS Dhanoa, Rafale is a game-changer, and the Chinese J-20 doesn't even come close.

However, expectedly, Chinese experts have a difference of opinion. They claim that Rafale is just a third-plus fighter aircraft and doesn't stand much of a chance against a 'stealth, fourth-generation jet like the J-20.'

Questions Over Chinese Aircrafts :

If Chinese equipment was so good, then why did the Pakistanis only use F-16 aircraft to attack Nangi Tekri brigade in Rajouri sector on February 27, 2019 with Chinese JF -17 merely giving air defence cover to Mirage 3/5 bombers. The Mirage 3/5 dropped the H 2/4 bombs from a safe distance with the JF -17 in the supportive role providing Air Deference to these aircraft! 

Why does Pakistan use Swedish early air warning platforms up north and keep Chinese AWACS in the south? 

Why is Pakistan mounting European radar (Selex Gallelio) and Turkish targeting pod on Chinese 

JF-17? 

The answer is quite evident, "the former" Chief said.

Chinese Air Force :

In the context of the recent troop and fighter deployment plan along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), here is a comparison of the Rafale with its equivalent in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

PLAAF operates a range of fighter planes, including Sukhoi SU-27, SU-30MKK and SU-35S,Chengdu 

J-7 and Chengdu J-10.

But since Rafale is one of the most technologically advanced aircraft of the IAF, it is only fair to compare it with the Chengdu J-20, China's most advanced fighter aircraft.

Chengdu J-20

Rafale Vs J-20 - The Full Specification Sheet :

The Dassault Rafale is a French twin-engine, canard delta wing, multi-role fighter aircraft and considered to be in the 4.5 generation category. The J-20 is a single-seat, twin-jet, all-weather, stealth, 5th generation fighter aircraft developed by China's Chengdu Aerospace Corporation.

Here is a look at the full specification of two fighter planes.

The exact characteristics of fifth-generation jet fighters are controversial and vague, with Lockheed martin defining them as having all-aspect stealth even when armed, low-probability-of-intercept radar (LPIR), high-performance airframes, advanced avionics features, and highly integrated computer systems capable of networking with other elements within the battle space for situation.

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SPECTRA protects the aircraft against airborne and ground threats. Various methods of detection, jamming, decoying and a highly re-programmable system capable of analyzing threats better, makes it extremely difficult to detect and shoot down a Rafale.

The J-20 is the World's third operational fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft after the F-22 and F-35.

The Sukhoi Su-57 is slated for delivery to the Russian Air Force in 2020.

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The J-20 is claimed to be a fifth-generation aircraft by the Chinese, which means it has  stealth capability. But stealth doesn't have a huge impact.

The US had claimed tat their F-22 raptor fighter aircraft had the edge over others due to stealth technology. However during a mock drill in UAE, in 2009, a Rafale had successully tracked and targeted an F-22 raptor.

The US defines 4.5 generation fighter aircraft as fourth-generation jet fighters that have been upgraded with AESA radar, high-capacity data-link, enhanced avionics, and "the ability to deploy current and reasonably foreseeable advanced armaments".

Since both aircraft are air superiority, multi-role fighters, they are capable of undertaking air-to-air combat, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship strike and nuclear deterrence missions. And they come with an array of weapons to help them perform each of these tasks.

Meteor,Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air to air missile

SCALP is a ground attack precision weapon, while Meteor is a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile. The Chinese J-20's equivalent of the Rafale's Meteor is the PL-15 missile, which according to a report published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies in early 2018 'would be the most capable air-to-air missile in the PLAAF inventory.'

Expert’s Take :

Air Marshal (Retd) Dhiraj Kukreja, a fighter pilot and former Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command said whatever capabilities the Chinese claim about the J-20 has to be taken with a pinch of salt. “First of all, it is not super stealth as the Chinese claim it to be since Indian radars have been able to pick them up. Then, they tried to develop an engine, but they could not. They had to go for Russian engines, so the thrust-to-weight ratio is not favourable, ”he said.

According to him, one of the biggest advantages India has is the location of its air bases. “The Chinese aircraft will have to take off from bases in Tibet, which are located at a height of 4,000 meters and above. Since the air there is less dense, they took full fuel and full weapon load. Whereas our fighters can get airborne from airfields located at lower altitudes and they will be able to take off with a full load of weapon, compared to their Chinese counterparts, ”he said.