Source : IgMp Bureau
Following the tense clash in the Galwan Valley between Indian and Chinese troops, observers have frequently compared the military capabilities of both countries, particularly in terms of Air Power. In a recent simulation exercise, Beijing declared that it had downed 17 Rafale fighters utilizing its J-20 stealth aircraft.
A Chinese pilot from the Wang Hai Air Group under the PLA Eastern Theater Command, along with fellow pilots, purportedly achieved this feat during simulated drills in 2020. The Wang Hai Air Group is the pioneering unit employing the J-20 fighter jets.
Simulation Exercises
Military simulations, also known as war games, are fabricated scenarios where combat strategies are tested to refine tactical and strategic approaches and assert dominance in potential real-world conflicts.
Flight simulators within military simulations replicate the characteristics of fighters and their cockpit environments, often incorporating full-motion platforms. They are utilized to train pilots and study the features and handling qualities of fighter jets without deploying actual warplanes. These simulations model the flight dynamics of a fighter jet, the functions of flight controls, the impacts of various aircraft systems, and the aircraft’s response to external factors such as air density, turbulence, wind conditions, clouds, precipitation, etc.
While criticized by experts for their limited accuracy and inability to fully replicate the uncertainties of real combat situations, military simulations remain crucial for testing and refining aircraft capabilities without engaging in actual hostilities.
Although military simulations enable pilots to execute high-risk procedures in a safe setting, they cannot perfectly mirror real-life scenarios.
Furthermore, simulators may not encompass all potential situations, and because trainee pilots face no genuine consequences for errors, their performance may deviate from what is expected in an actual combat scenario where risks are higher, and pilots must adapt to unforeseen challenges.
Chinese may have forgotten to consider the world’s best EW suite equipped on Rafale, the SPECTRA
The Rafale’s defense is fortified by the SPECTRA (Self-Protection Equipment to Counter Threats for Rafale Aircraft), an integrated defensive suite developed by Thales in collaboration with MBDA. SPECTRA operates across the electromagnetic, laser, and infrared spectrums, employing data fusion from multispectral sensors to detect, locate, jam, and counter a wide array of threats.
SPECTRA comprises receivers and countermeasure systems. Radio frequency (RF) detectors utilize advanced techniques like interferometry for precise direction finding and passive ranging, along with digital frequency memory for signal coherence. The system also features accurate laser warning detectors with direction-finding capabilities and a passive infrared missile warning system. Data from all these sensors is processed by a central computer, which prioritizes and activates relevant countermeasures based on a comparison with onboard threat libraries. RF jamming is executed through active phased antennas, allowing the jamming signal to be concentrated in specific sectors, enhancing effectiveness while reducing the likelihood of interception by adversary sensors. Additionally, the SPECTRA system includes mechanical countermeasures for dispensing chaff and decoys effective against electromagnetic or infrared threats.
Beyond safeguarding the Rafale, SPECTRA serves an offensive role. Fused sensor data provides threat tracks displayed in the cockpit, aiding in defense suppression missions. Moreover, the high-quality data from SPECTRA sensors facilitates electronic intelligence gathering. Potential threats are compared against the threat library, which can be updated with new information. Data from SPECTRA is recorded and can be analyzed upon the aircraft’s return, allowing for updates to master threat libraries and the production of revised data files for future missions.
SPECTRA’s advanced capabilities include Suppression or Destruction of Enemy Defenses (SEAD/DEAD) using cutting-edge jamming systems and anti-radiation weapons. Future iterations of the Dassault Rafale, such as the F4.1 and F5 versions, will feature enhanced versions of the SPECTRA suite, creating a protective bubble around the aircraft against enemy sensors, radars, and weapons.
The Rafale can potentially blind enemy fighter jets by jamming their sensors and radars using the sophisticated sensors and systems integrated into its airframe.
This revolutionary system is expected to tip the scales in potential confrontations between the Chinese J-20 stealth fighter and the Indian Air Force’s Dassault Rafale.
While India currently operates the Rafale F3R variant, plans are underway to procure an additional 114 Rafale F4/F4.1 aircraft as part of the highly anticipated Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) acquisition program. These upcoming Rafale variants will be upgradeable to the F5 standard, bolstering the Indian Air Force’s firepower and positioning it more favorably against the Chinese J-20 stealth jet. The Rafale F5 is touted to feature stealth capabilities, incorporating Radar Absorbent Materials (RAM) and composite materials to reduce its Radar Cross Section (RCS).
Difference of Opinions by Indian and Chinese Experts
Nevertheless, Chinese experts continue to argue that the French Rafales cannot match the stealth capabilities of the J-20s. “The Rafale is only a third-plus generation (or fourth-plus generation in Western classification) fighter jet, creating a generational disparity with the J-20 and making it challenging for the Rafale to contend with a stealth-capable fourth (fifth) generation fighter like the J-20.”
In contrast, Indian aviation experts assert that while the J-20s may hold theoretical advantages over the French Rafales, the Rafale jets have proven their mettle in combat and are widely regarded as one of the most formidable multi-role fighters in the world today. The purported 17-0 victory claims by the Chinese hold little weight beyond domestic propaganda, according to Indian Air Force analysts.
A former Indian Air Force Air Marshal previously told that the Rafale’s impressive combat record and its versatility in various roles elevate it above the J-20. While the J-20 is still in its developmental stages, the Rafale has been battle-tested over two decades in conflicts spanning Iraq, Afghanistan, Mali, Libya, and Syria. The Rafale’s versatility as an Omni-role aircraft positions it as a formidable opponent to the J-20.
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