In that sense, both feature sensor fusion and represent a significant upgrade compared to legacy aircraft and previous Rafale and Typhoon standards. Justin Bronk is a Research Fellow of Military Sciences at the Royal United Services Institute and Editor of RUSI Defence Systems. … Copyright Defence View 2020 © All rights reserved. “With common DNA in terms of initial development and requirements setting work before France spilt away from what became the Eurofighter consortium to develop the Rafale, it is unsurprising that both aircraft have relatively similar design philosophies compared to their competitors globally. Both types have a similar ferry range with a ‘heavy’ three tank fit. for the cost of one euro-hour Eurofighter in 2013. In terms of unit cost, Rafale is marketed as cheaper than the latest standards of Typhoon, although the Indian experience would suggest that in practice export customer requirements on industrial offsets and liability can dramatically alter costs compared to the up-front offer, so I’d be wary of comparing public cost claims from either manufacturer. The German/Spanish Radar 1 order will, however, mean that there are a large number of AESA equipped Typhoons in service by the mid-2020s with all the Quadriga and Tornado replacement Typhoons to feature the capability. Our interviews with Typhoon pilot here , here and here. directly from Dassault with none of the aircraft being made in India. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A Eurofighter Typhoon | Eurofighter website Nearly seven years after the Indian Air Force announced the Dassault Rafale was the lowest bidder for a deal for 126 fighter aircraft, the French jet's main rival, the Eurofighter Typhoon, is back in the news in India. The cost of 36 Rafale aircraft cannot be directly compared to the cost … Having ‘flown’ full fidelity Typhoon simulators in Italy and the UK, including the latest Project Centurion multi-role standard now used by the RAF, I was impressed by the intuitive ‘feel’ of the human-machine interface (HMI) across various multi role tasks. It can also carry other munitions including the US Paveway II and III series of laser-guided bombs, and has been cleared for the AGM-88 HARM and British ALARM anti-radiation missiles although these are not in operational service. This is a realistic comparison … In within-visual range combat, both Typhoon and Rafale would likely destroy each other in the merge in a 1v1 or 2v2. Meanwhile the new Qatari standard Rafales are being delivered with the type’s first HMD, but the French Air Force still lacks this capability, and the system is still to be matured. Currently, a new version of JAS 39E with advanced capabilities is offered for export, which will be a good competition for Rafale and Eurofighter. Rafale has had some impressive success on the export market since 2015, with the combination of RBE2 radar, combat record in Libya and aggressive French state support for marketing efforts contributing to success in Egypt, Qatar and Greece (as well as India). The exact cost per flight hour (a hugely contentious topic anyway) will depend greatly on which operator and which version you are looking at. Typhoon with the PIRATE system is significantly ahead of the legacy Rafale IRST. I am surprised the Typhoons new Digital Stealth was not mentioned, it seems to be a world leading capability on Typhoon to counter, if not surpass the lack of static stealth in the air-frame. Both Typhoon and Rafale can launch capable standoff cruise missiles in the shape of the Storm Shadow/SCALP and Taurus KEPD 350. In essence, the only real basic difference between the two is the number of engines. The biggest source of differences comes from the French requirement that the basic airframe design be suitable for CATOBAR carrier operations, which carries particular requirements in terms of relatively high-alpha, low speed handling especially with external stores still attached. The Hush-Kit Book of Warplanes is a beautifully designed, highly visual, collection of the best articles from the fascinating world of military aviation –hand-picked from the highly acclaimed Hush-kit online magazine (and mixed with a heavy punch of new exclusive material). Energy management/ ability to regenerate energy. – In Range, the Eurofighter’s LPD takes up a wet point Firepower does not mean a clear advantage, while weight, mobility, quantity of ammunition, control and aiming systems, or type of armor play a decisive role. However, as a rule Rafale is probably slightly cheaper in real terms to acquire than Typhoon. French Rafale jets, Eurofighter Typhoons and Russian SU-35s could be competing for Indonesian defence contracts. Everyone has their own peculiarities, but in the complex of combat characteristics they are about equal and it is difficult to give anyone a clear preference. Based on the physical properties of the two aircraft I’d suspect the Rafale has a higher instantaneous rate, but at the same time the Typhoon should have a superior sustained turn rate irrespective of altitude thanks to signifantly higher thrust and a lower induced drag. For Rafal, this figure is between $16,700 and $18,000, while EF-2000 has about $18,000. Which aircraft would fare better against the Flanker family and other aircraft likely to be flown by near-peer competitors such as the Chinese J-10 family? TOPGUN instructor (and former F-14/F/A-18 crew) assesses Tomcat versus Meteor-armed Typhoon fight & list top 5 BVR fighters 2020 here. The typhoon would be destroyed before it even knew the JSF was there. Rafale : The Rafale is fitted with the Snecma M88 engine, capable of providing up to 50 kN (11,250 lbf) of dry thrust and 75 kN (16,900 lbf) with afterburners. The U.S. AGM-84 Harpoon has higher range characteristics, but it should be noted that Eurofighter is unlikely to be able to use Harpoon’s maximum capabilities with its full-time detection capabilities. His article provoked a huge response from readers around the world. A significant drawback of French products is their extremely high cost of 300,000 dollars, which is more than 10 times more expensive than American counterparts. The UK’s Typhoons in particular are more closely integrated with the USAF air dominance community than (any) other fighter arm so have more practice in getting the most out of cooperative engagements with F-22s in realistic training scenarios. Rewards levels include these packs of specially produced trump cards. In BVR: The Russian Irbis-E has a higher scan range than the Rafale’s RBE-2AA even though the former is PESA. What is the best Rafale variant today and why?That’s tricky to say. Thank you very much. However, the deal could not be finalised by the UPA regime. Comparison of Eurofighter Typhoon (EF2000) and Dassault Rafale Direct side-by-side comparison of two aircraft. India interested in producing submarines with Russia, 10 interesting facts about the International Space Station, China new dry dock for “Aircraft carrier”: Type 002 Aircraft Carrier Will Launch Soon. 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Defensive aids SPECTRA has a better reputation primarily because of Libya in 2011 (a result of French political ambition and risk tolerance, alongside technical capability). The Modi government's move to cancel the original Rafale deal and buy 36 jets off the rack ran into controversy, with the Congress party raising … In the running are Mikoyan’s MiG-35, the Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab Gripen, Boeing F/A-18E/F and Lockheed Martin F-16. PIRATE is a genuinely exceptional IRST, although for years shortages of spare parts limited its use by various frontline squadrons. What is Typhoon’s configuration designed to excel at, and the same for Rafale? At higher altitudes, Typhoon’s greater specific excess power and decoupled canards give it a slight advantage, which increases as altitude increases above 45,000ft. Information can be transmitted to a ground station in real-time at a rate of 50 Mbps. COUNTRIES. Brimstone’s smaller size also allows more weapons to be carried per aircraft, with three per hardpoint on adaptors. Developers are constantly improving their aircraft both in terms of equipment and in terms of armament. Summing up, I would like to say that all three fighters have a high combat potential, are equipped with modern avionics and weapons, are able to perform a wide range of tasks. The wartime load-out for Typhoon would by four Meteor in semi-recessed fuselage mounts plus four ASRAAM/IRIS-T although in practice a mix of Meteor and AMRAAM might be chosen for additional tactical flexibility and stockpile management. Also Damocles is replaced by TALIOS as part of F3R. 3. It also has American-made CABs. It should be said that the KEPD-350 is developing a whole family of KR with different combat units: The main means of hitting ground targets for all European vehicles are the American-made adjustable air bombs (CAA) with laser guidance weighing up to 900 kg. F-35 Lightning II vs F-15E Strike Eagle F-22 Raptor. The ongoing flight trials of the SPEAR 3 multirole light standoff munition (which includes an EW variant for stand-in jamming) on UK Typhoons give the type access to another highly potent option, although at present the UK is only paying to actually use SPEAR 3 on F-35B. Both fighters are fairly expensive to operate compared to solutions such as Gripen or F-16 on a one-for-one basis, being large, complex, twin engined beasts. How has Typhoon improved since your 2015 assessment?The multirole capabilities of the jet have matured drastically since 2015, especially as a result of the RAF’s Project Centurion programme which integrated Brimstone, full Paveway IV functionality and Storm Shadow, in addition to full Striker HMD exploitation and a number of other multirole enabling capabilities. As of 2007, a thrust vectoring variant of the engine designated as M88-3D was also under development. The integration of the Meteor missile for the F3R standard Rafales has plugged a major weakness of the type in my 2015 assessments – the lack of a serious BVR stick. In 2012, a confidential report of the Swiss Air Force's 2009 tests of the three contenders was leaked, which had rated the Gripen as performing substantially … Both Typhoon and Rafale lack a commonly carried anti-radiation missile, although modern AAM such as AMRAAM and Meteor can be assumed to have a certain degree of ARM capability in extremis. A report suggested Rafale and Typhoon were in the final stage. The two aircraft have progressed different paths, … Both aircraft have similar IRST sensors. HOME. CAPTOR-M (has the advantage) against larger targets such as bombers or MiG-31 ‘Foxhound’s due to a much larger aperture and generally higher altitude perch during air-to-air engagements. The arsenal of used weapons on the JAS-39C is less diverse than that of its “colleagues”. F-22 Raptor vs Sukhoi SU-35 F-22 Raptor. Typhoon has anti-ship munition options but no current operators use them. For Rafale, Meteor is regularly carried by the F3R standard aircraft on live operational sorties by both the Armee de l’Air and Aeronavale. I would particularly like to note the French designers who managed to create a really good universal aircraft for both the Air Force and the Navy, whose requirements for combat vehicles are contradictory. What are the role of Indian LCH and Apache Helicopter ? However, Typhoon also uses a lot more fuel in afterburner so for mission profiles that involve a lot of AB use, Rafale will likely have the edge. However, an RAF standard Tranche 3 Typhoon would likely come out ahead on BVR performance, interceptor missions (due to extreme rate of climb and performance), ESM, terminal countermeasures and low-collateral strike capabilities. To install 227, 454, 910 calibers on conventional free-to-air bombs, France has developed a modular AASM kit (similar to the American JDAM). For export operators, things are much more dependent on fleet size and support contract structures than the differences between each aircraft type. In practice, both types depend to a large degree on tanker support for most operational missions. Given that the arms market has serious rivals in the face of Russia and China, who offer their products at a much lower price, it will be quite difficult for Europeans to achieve significant achievements in the supply of their equipment for export. Il Rafale è un aereo multiruolo di quarta generazione, e può essere paragonato all’Eurofighter Typhoon, costruito in Europa da Gran Bretagna, Germania, Italia e Spagna. The figure of 80,000 is named. Unfortunately I haven’t had the opportunity to do the same with the French Air Force (hint hint mes amis!). As above, the higher the speed and altitude of an engagement, the better Typhoon performs relative to Rafale and vice versa. F-22 Raptor vs SU-30MKI F-22 Raptor. At the same time, it was possible to achieve a high degree of unification of structures by 80% (by BREO by 95%). by Swarajya Staff - Feb 20, 2019 06:00 PM. I’m a bit surprised the RECO-NG pod was not mentioned in the Recce-Equipment section. After all, Typhoon and Rafale were not built to fight each other, and will not do so. The GBU-39 SBD (Small Diameter Bomb) is an American controlled high-precision air bomb with wings spread out in the air. For example, Spanish Typhoons cost a great deal more to fly than British ones since the RAF flies its fleet a lot more and has more streamlined maintenance support arrangements. The flip side is that both AMRAAM variants have advanced off-board guidance capabilities to allow passive engagements in cooperation with another aircraft in active mode. China Has Deployed J-11, J-16 Fighter Jets In Increased Numbers To Counter Indian Air Force At LAC. Saab responded with an initial proposal on 2 July 2008; other contenders were the Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon. The AIM-120C7 and AIM-120D variants of AMRAAM used by RAF Typhoons significantly outrange MICA, although they do no boast an IR variant for passive BVR engagement capabilities. French CAB with AASM outperforms American JDAM in terms of characteristics. He … However, the biggest win in recent years is for Typhoon from Germany for both the Quadriga-standard replacement order for the Tranche 1s and also 90 aircraft to replace Germany’s Tornado fleet in the conventional strike role. You’re methods of comparing is old school. The Indian Air Force (IAF) hopes that the contract for the medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA) Rafale will be signed by the middle of this year with the French aerospace vendor Dassault Aviation. However, to have a decent probability of kill against modern long range air defence radars, these missiles require accurate real time target location data. In the SBD II variant, it is capable of hitting moving mobile targets. Deadlock over multiple issues, including French firm Dassault refusing to take ownership of Rafale, which is being built in India among other things. For such targets, Typhoon users would employ Paveway II/III/IV series weapons. However, if talking about a ‘guns’ fight, then Rafale has better agility, instantaneous turn and sustained turn capabilities below around 15,000ft. By dint of being complex multi role single seat (in most cases) fighters, the HOTAS controls are fairly intimidating to someone used to a US teen series (or my DCS A-10C/F-16 HOTAS), but once mastered are extremely comprehensive. ( Log Out /  As similar as the Rafale is to the Typhoon, it shares even more in common with the Gripen. – In A2G, India ordered SPICE glide bombs for Rafale ( Log Out /  Austria is trying to sell the their Typhoons as they are only not much use as a fighter. The “airpark” will mainly be multifunctional fighters of the “4” and “4” generations. However, after the installation of the MS20 software, it was able to use small-diameter GBU-39 bombs (up to 8 pieces). It would be the first sale of Rafale outside France once the deal is finalized. However, this modification has lost its main trump card – a relatively low price. However, neither truly does the F-35’s signature trick of feeding the raw sensor inputs into a complex analytical process which cross references data from and cross cues not only each sensor on the jet but also those across a formation of F-35s, before presenting a processed single SA picture to the pilot. The Rafale’s RCS reduction won’t be much of a use due to Sukhoi’s L-band antennas built into the wing’s leading edges and rudders which can pick up faint … Rafale, EF-2000 and JAS 39E aircraft can be suspended by up to four portable missiles (PKR), and two missiles can be fired on the JAS-39C. Among the advantages of “Rafale” is its ability to conduct intelligence. According to Deutsche Welle, with reference to Spiegel Online, the operation of combat vehicles is much more expensive than the planned level. Aero India Day-1: Rafale, B-52, Gripen-E, Typhoon And Other Aircraft Light Up Bengaluru’s Yelahanka Air Force Base. If it was a priority to up the Meteor carriage on Rafale to four, I expect that could be done at the cost of MICA numbers on the centre underwing station. The leaked Swiss evaluation rated Rafale superior in almost every category- would this still be the case?The Swiss competition was horrendously mismanaged by the Eurofighter consortium with a buggy Tranche 1 jet sent to compete with the best that Saab and Dassault could bring to the table. NEW DELHI: The cost of 36 Rafale jets, being procured from France, ... Dassault Aviation's Rafale and and EADS's Eurofighter Typhoon-- remained in the reckoning. – In Recce, Rafale has the dedicated Reco NG pod. They are capable of hitting ground targets moving at speeds of up to 80 km/h (U.S. GBU-12 – 40 km/h). The French Air Force’s latest F3R aircraft with the RBE2 and Meteor are, on balance, likely to be the most capable Rafales around for much the same reasons as the RAF’s Tranche 3 Typhoons are. Rafale uses the Damocles targeting pod for light recce duties whilst RAF Typhoons use the Lightning III which also has limited FOV recon capabilities. The cost of operation is much cheaper for the Swedish JAS 39C with a flight hour cost from $4,700 to $7,000. Their job is to deter and if necessary provide overmatch against the latest hostile fighter types. There’s a reason (beyond the undoubted inefficiencies and concurrency) why the US have had to put nearly half a trillion dollars into the F-35 programme to date, mostly aimed at getting the nightmarishly ambitious and complex software architecture to work. The characteristics of Storm Shadow/SCALP EG and KR KEPD-350 TAURUS are roughly equal. The Sunday Telegraph reported in November 2010 that the Eurofighter Typhoon was leading the competition on "technical terms". A look into art and culture’s love affair with the aeroplane. What is the best Typhoon variant today and why? "M/s DA (Dassault Aviation) was determined as L1 (lowest bidder) based on Total Cost of Acquisition (TCA). With heavy loads, however, Rafale performs significantly better than Typhoon across the almost the entire performance envelope, having been designed from the outset to incorporate heavy multirole loads. Germany has cleared its Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile but since German politicians do not believe that Air Forces should be used to kill people, its capabilities remain untested in combat. The latter was deleted from the latest F3R standard aircraft pending an updated capability in the F4 standard jets, leaving a laser rangefinder/EO ball only. They are designed to destroy highly protected military installations. On 30 November 2011, the Swiss government announced its decision to buy 22 Gripen NG aircraft for 3.1 billion Swiss francs. The BK27 has slightly better muzzle velocity and ballistic properties whilst the GIAT has slightly better destructive effect due to its larger shell. However, in terms of radar, the Rafale would still come out ahead due to its mature RBE2. Dassault Rafale vs Eurofighter Typhoon Comments of readers (Feel free to leave a reply on bottom)1. Both fighters will pull 9G all day long in air combat configuration at most altitudes. China’s Shandong aircraft carrier completes sea trial, but not combat ready, The 5 most powerful stealth weapons ever built by the US, Top 5 Best Fighter Aircraft In Middle East. In terms of instantaneous turn rate, Rafale has a slight advantage in air combat configuration and that increases with heavier multirole or strike loads. O istorie a contractului din India . Geographically surrounded on four sides by the Eurofighter nations, the frivolous observer may liken the French Rafale to Asterix and his indomitable friends. In practice, there is little to choose between them, I pity the enemy shot at by either. For reference the German/Spanish ‘Radar 1’ standard will add further capabilities and the UK’s ECRS2 version will be a different beast entirely with advanced ground mapping, GMTI and EW capabilities in addition to traditional AESA functions. Both are significantly cleaner in terms of switches and clutter than previous generations of aircraft and slightly cleaner than current generation F-15s and F-16s in USAF service. Recommended donation £15. AASM is dependent on either IR or laser-guidance to hit moving targets, rendering it more sensitive to adverse conditions than Brimstone’s millimetric wave radar seeker/laser dual mode guidance option. I guess it would take a lot of money to upgrade them to the latest version? Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The Indian standard does feature some impressive additions including additional podded electronic warfare capabilities and TRD, whilst the Qatari standard features the new HMD. RAFALE v/s SU-35. It seems to hinge on the EW suite being ‘e-programmable’. F-22 Raptor vs SU-27 F-22 Raptor Now here comes the long-confusing matter, Eurofighter typhoon Vs. other european jets, such as Rafale and Gripen. Range: 3,600 km: 3,700 km: Max speed: Mach 2.25 (2,390 km/h, 1,490 mph) Mach 1.8 (1,912 km/h) Service ceiling: 18,000 m: 15,235 m: Weight empty: 18.4 t: 10.3 t