With the Indian Air Pressure’s (IAF) fighter squadron power at its lowest in six many years, New Delhi is seeking to enhance its fight energy, with French Rafale fighter jets on the forefront.
The IAF now fields solely about 29 fighter squadrons towards a sanctioned power of 42, its lowest stage for the reason that Nineteen Sixties, triggering a pointy debate in New Delhi over find out how to shut the hole.
After years of debate, assessments, negotiations, and arduous bargaining, India has zeroed in on the French Rafale. India ordered 36 Rafale in 2016 and adopted up with a follow-on order for 26 Rafale M (the Naval model) in 2025.
India can also be negotiating a cope with France for 114 new Rafales. If finalized, India may have a fleet of 176 Rafales, making it the second-largest operator after France.
Concurrently, India is creating its personal fifth-generation fighter jet, the AMCA. In line with the official timeline, which nearly all analysts agree is overly formidable, AMCA will enter serial manufacturing round 2035.
This implies India may have a critical functionality hole relative to China and presumably even Pakistan.
China has almost 300 J-20 stealth fighter jets in its arsenal, and by 2035, this quantity may swell as much as 1,000.
Pakistan, in the meantime, may reportedly purchase 40 J-35A fifth-generation fighter jets from China, and in response to some stories, Pakistani pilots have already began coaching on these plane.
Rafale Jets: Can They Counter Stealth Fighters?
Amid this debate, a analysis paper by the French Institute of Worldwide Relations (IFRI) highlights that French pilots themselves are skeptical of the Rafale’s capabilities towards stealth fighter jets.
Whereas the paper means that this functionality hole shall be considerably bridged with the arrival of Rafale F5, this model of the jet shall be operational solely round 2033-2035. This implies India may have a critical functionality hole vis-à-vis each China and Pakistan (if it certainly buys the J-35A) for the following decade.
The paper means that French Air Pressure pilots suppose the Rafale isn’t ok towards stealth plane.
“Within the realm of air-to-air fight, the French Air and House Pressure is properly outfitted and proficient when going through adversaries working non-stealth fighter plane,” the paper mentioned.
“Nevertheless, the present operational shortfall in VLO (very low observable – one other time period for stealth fighter jets) know-how may make France reliant on associate air forces outfitted with VLO platforms and successfully restrict it to a supporting function in allied operations for the interval 2025–2035,” it added.
In a high-intensity fight with Western allies, the French fighter power “could possibly be confined to the function of ‘auxiliaries’ to the fifth era fighters, in a two-speed air coalition.”
Primarily, the paper acknowledges that whereas Rafale stands out for its air-to-air fight prowess, the stealth functionality hole means France will depend on associate nations that function stealth jets and can successfully play supporting roles in NATO operations through the interval 2025 to 2035.
It additional added that “fight missions towards stealth fighters on Rafale are very troublesome to win within the present state of sensors.”
A crucial weak spot highlighted by the paper is its restricted effectivity in SEAD (suppression of enemy air defenses) missions.
Stealth fighters are higher at SEAD (suppression of enemy air defenses) primarily as a result of they will get near radar and SAM websites, forcing standard fighters to remain farther away.
A standard fighter is usually detected by search radars at lengthy vary, which then share the info with SAM launchers, permitting them to trace the goal and shoot it down.
Stealth fighter jets; nonetheless, resulting from their very low radar-cross-section (RCS) will not be simply detectable, particularly within the X-band frequencies most SAM fire-control radars use.
Primarily, a radar that might be capable to detect Su-30, Rafale, or F-15 at a distance of over 100 miles won’t be capable to detect a stealth jet, such because the F-22 Raptor or the F-35, till it’s already very shut.
The stealth jets can due to this fact penetrate contested airspace unchallenged and carry out SEAD missions successfully. We noticed an iteration of this in 2025 and 2026, when on two events Israeli stealth fighter jets had been capable of penetrate Iranian airspace and carry out SEAD missions earlier than fourth-generation fighter jets entered the image for heavy bombing missions.
France, nonetheless, “won’t have a correct SEAD functionality earlier than Rafale F5,” it mentioned.
AASM/Hammer offers Rafales solely restricted DEAD (Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses) towards short-range mounted SAM websites and nonetheless wants exterior sensors France doesn’t have.
One other drawback is that the SCALP-EG vary is just simply ample towards trendy standoff SAMs and can’t be retargeted in flight, in contrast to the Tomahawk Block IV/V.
Rafale, due to this fact, whereas a really succesful multirole fighter jet recognized for its air-to-air fight prowess, cannot successfully carry out SEAD/DEAD missions in contested airspace, which severely limits its operational freedom towards a peer enemy.
Why France Ignored Stealth
A number of causes clarify France’s reluctance to spend money on VLO know-how.
Within the Nineties, each France’s armed forces and its nationwide protection trade had been caught off guard by the fast emergence of American VLO capabilities.
“Having already dedicated to the Rafale program, French protection stakeholders downplayed the importance of VLO know-how within the context of the peace dividend and the restricted scope of navy operations on the time,” the paper mentioned.
The rise of VLO (stealth) platforms offered a industrial threat for the Rafale, with no various stealth design that could possibly be quickly developed in France.
One more reason France ignored stealth was the character of conflicts from 1995 to 2022 during which France participated, the place the Rafale’s capabilities persistently exceeded the operational calls for of theaters in Afghanistan, Libya, and the Sahel.
Nevertheless, towards a near-peer enemy comparable to Russia or China, which have superior built-in air protection methods (IADS), the Rafale’s skill to penetrate contested airspace stays debatable.
The technological asymmetry is now clear. “French pilots, who recurrently take part in joint workout routines towards fifth-generation fighters, acknowledge that ‘fight missions towards stealth plane within the Rafale are very troublesome to win with the present state of sensors.’
Moreover 114 Rafales, India is in talks with France over the Sixth-gen FCAS plane program. Nevertheless, if the deal materialized, FCAS jets will not be anticipated to enter service anytime earlier than 2040.
- Sumit Ahlawat has over a decade of expertise in information media. He has labored with Press Belief of India, Instances Now, Zee Information, Financial Instances, and Microsoft Information. He holds a Grasp’s Diploma in Worldwide Media and Trendy History from the College of Sheffield, UK.
- He will be reached at ahlawat.sumit85 (at) gmail.com
