As China’s J-16 “Hidden Dragon” fighter jets drill in opposition to Egyptian Rafales, the Indian Air Power continues to sharpen its tooth by means of multinational workout routines and prepare in opposition to cutting-edge jets just like the “stealth” F-35.
The Chinese language Air Power (PLAAF) is eager to decode Western fighter jets just like the Rafale, Eurofighter, and Gripen, whereas the Indian Air Power is quietly working to change into a “stealth killer” power, primarily to counter China’s J-20s.
That is the primary time the J-16 and Rafale have confronted one another in an train, the place they reportedly engaged in one-on-one and two-on-two close- and medium-range air fight drills.
Many China-backed media handles and bloggers have claimed a transparent win for the J-16, with some claiming a 7-1 win in opposition to the Rafale. Evidently, the numbers are imaginative.
Simply two years again, the South China Morning Put up claimed that through the 2024 “Zilzal-II” joint air workout routines, Chinese language J-10CE fighters posted an ideal 9-0 file in opposition to Qatari Eurofighter Typhoons in simulated air engagements, each in close-range dogfights and beyond-visual-range (BVR) situations.
China’s J-11s have additionally educated with the JAS39 Gripen of the Royal Thai Air Power (RTAF). The JAS 39 Gripens reportedly achieved 88 p.c of their victories at ranges of 30 kilometers or extra, downing 41 J-11s at a lack of simply 9 Gripens, a ratio exceeding four-to-one, in a report by Harrison Kass for “The Nationwide Curiosity”.
The J-16 “Hidden Dragon”
The Shenyang J-16 is an all-weather 4.5-generation, tandem-seat, twin-engine, multirole strike fighter. Developed from the Shenyang J-11, the licensed manufacturing variant of the Russian Sukhoi Su-27, the design was additional refined based mostly on the Su-30MKK.
Russians had repeatedly identified that J-11 variants have been unauthorized developments by means of reverse engineering. Since 2017, almost 470 J-16s have been constructed. The J-16D is an digital warfare variant geared up with wingtip EW pods; an inner EW system replaces the IRST and 30 mm cannon. The 12 exterior hard-points can carry 8 tons of quite a lot of weapons, together with very long-range PL-15 and PL-17 BVR air-to-air missiles.
The plane has not been exported to any nation and has restricted train publicity with international air forces (Russia, Thailand, and Pakistan) to this point. The plane has seen no precise operations.
Dassault Rafale
The Dassault Rafale is a twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter plane geared up with a variety of weapons. The Rafale is meant to carry out air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, floor assist, in-depth strike, anti-ship strike, and nuclear deterrence missions.
Dassault markets the plane as an “omnirole” fighter as a result of it may carry out a number of distinct mission roles throughout a single sortie. The plane options front-hemisphere stealth and options the RBE2 AA lively electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and the optronique secteur frontal infra-red search and monitor (IRST) sensor.
On its 14 exterior hard-points, it may carry a 9.5-tonne load. The French Air Power operates the plane, and the French Navy makes use of it for carrier-based operations. India, Egypt, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates additionally function the plane.
310 Rafale have been constructed, and almost 220 extra are on order. Not like the J-16, Rafale has been utilized in fight over Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq, Syria, and by India in opposition to Pakistan.
Train and Fight Publicity
The IAF has participated in over 100 worldwide air workout routines since 2001. These embody multi-nation, bi-annual “Pitch Black” train in Australia, “Crimson Flag” – Alaska (USA), Train “Cobra Warrior” (UK), India’s personal Train “Tarang Shakti”, “Desert Knight” (India, France, UAE), Ocean Sky (Spain), and “Desert Flag” (UAE).
Additionally there are bi-lateral workout routines “Garuda” (France), “Veer Guardian” (Japan), “Udara Shakti” (Malaysia), “Iniochos” (Greece), “Indradhanush” (UK), and “Jap Bridge” (Oman), “Cope India” (USA), Aviaindra (Russia), and “Desert Warrior” (Egypt), amongst others. All IAF fighter fleets have been uncovered in these workout routines.
IAF fighters have exercised and engaged with all top-end plane, together with the stealth F-35, in these workout routines.
Since 1947, IAF has been uncovered to fight operations in 1947-48, 1961, 1962, 1965, and 1971. IAF was deeply engaged in Sri Lanka. The Kargil battle of 1999 was fought at Himalayan heights with targets at as much as 18,000 toes. The IAF was instantly engaged within the Balakot Strikes and, extra not too long ago, in Op Sindoor.
PLAAF has begun worldwide workout routines extra not too long ago.
Most necessary amongst them is the “Shaheen sequence” with the Pakistan Air Power (PAF). Began in March 2011, this sequence permits Pakistan to share its expertise in train engagements with Western international locations, and the PAF can assess PLAAF Su-30-class plane.
Different worldwide workout routines for the PLAAF embody “Eagles of Civilization” (Egypt, 2025 & 2026), Falcon Defend (UAE), and Falcon Strike (Thailand). They conduct joint strategic air patrols with Russia and bilateral or multilateral army workout routines close to the jap seaboard.
The PLAAF’s final battle publicity was within the Korean Conflict (1950–1953). PLAAF had no lively position within the Vietnam Conflict, besides supporting North Vietnam with recommendation and supplies. The 1979 Sino-Vietnamese Conflict was fought solely by the Chinese language floor forces. This implies the PLAAF has restricted fight and train publicity.
J-16 vs Rafale
For BVR fight, the radar cross-section (RCS) is essential. The RCS of the J-16 is roughly 4.5 sq. meters; the Rafale’s frontal RCS is 1.0 sq. meter; China’s Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter is estimated at 0.1 sq. meters; and the F-35 has an especially small RCS of roughly 0.0015 to 0.005 sq. meters. Clearly, the Rafale can be seen a lot later.
The J-16 has a a lot bigger nostril part. It may possibly thus home a bigger AESA radar, giving it better energy output, extra trans-receiver modules, and a detection vary of round 200-250 kilometers.
Rafale’s smaller however extra superior RBE2 AESA radar is extra agile with quicker scanning and a steerable digital beam, and has a variety of round 200 kilometers. The radar is understood for its high-quality ECCM options, and when mixed with the plane’s SPECTRA EW Suite, it may function effectively in a high-ECM atmosphere.
The J-16 has the bigger PL-15 missile with a claimed vary of 200 to 300 km. It may possibly carry the PL-17 (400km). Rafale’s Meteor has a most vary of 200 km, however has a “No Escape Zone” of 60 km, which is taken into account the very best amongst any missile.
Rafale scores clearly with its absolutely built-in and inner SPECTRA EW suite. China needed to create the J-16D, a devoted EW escort plane with specialised exterior pods, together with anti-radiation missiles. SPECTRA offers digital manufacturing across the 360-degree bubble.
The 2 plane observe totally different Community-Centric Warfare (NCW) methods. The Rafale makes a speciality of extremely automated inner sensor fusion and data-links with different platforms for situational consciousness and fight engagements. J-16 can also be nicely networked with floor and airborne platforms and satellites.
Each are 4.5-generation plane. Each can carry comparable weapons load. The mixture of Rafale’s decrease RCS, higher radar and EW suite, and the Meteor’s low escape zone provides it an edge in dynamic fight conditions. Rafale has a lot better train and precise fight publicity.
India Trains to Neutralize China’s J-20 Stealth Fighters
Whereas China trains in opposition to Rafale and different Western Jets to counter the Indian Air Power, the IAF can also be quietly training to neutralize China’s J-20 stealth fighters, arguably the very best warplanes in its arsenal.
PLAAF already has almost 450 fifth-generation fighter plane. India has none. IAF is not going to get one for 5-10 years or much more.
IAF has been exercising with the F-35s in multilateral workout routines like “Pitch Black” in Australia and Train Konkan over the Arabian Sea. These workout routines contain each 4th- and Fifth-generation plane. The USAF F-35s are prone to be part of Tarang Shakti (twenty fourth September to twelfth October 2026) at Jodhpur, marking its first train look in India.
Practising in opposition to F-35s would tremendously assist the IAF to know and counter stealth plane like China’s J-20.
India doesn’t have a stealth jet of its personal but, so these workout routines are the closest means for Indian pilots to see how a fifth-generation plane truly behaves within the air. They learn the way late a stealth jet seems on radar, the way it makes use of sensors with out giving itself away, and the way exhausting it’s to trace from the entrance.
As an alternative of treating stealth as magic invisibility, IAF can observe discovering such an plane with AEW&C, floor radars, infrared sensors, and networked fighters working collectively. The purpose is just not a one-on-one struggle between, as an illustration, a Rafale and J-20. It’s to coach Rafales and Su-30 MKIs to detect, monitor, and shoot at a J-20-class plane earlier than it may pose a risk.
Stealth works greatest in opposition to high-frequency X- and Ku-band radars; it’s far much less dependable in opposition to lower-frequency units and in opposition to networks that have a look at an plane from many angles without delay. That’s the reason India is investing within the Surya VHF radar and the multi-layered Mission Sudarshan Chakra grid, which are supposed to detect fifth-generation jets such because the J-20 by utilizing longer wavelengths, passive and multi-static arrays, and fused tracks from floor radars, AEW&C plane and space-based sensors.
As soon as that image emerges, long-range SAMs such because the S-400 and India’s Kusha system can interact low-observable jets {that a} single radar might need missed. The identical logic applies on the bottom: a BrahMos strike on the J-20 base at Hotan would take away the plane earlier than it ever enters the struggle.
To Summarise
China is aspiring to be a superpower on the identical degree because the USA.
It has realized that naval and air energy are essential for international management and affect. It has thus been investing in plane carriers (3 inducted and three beneath planning/development), naval fight vessels (forward of the USA by numbers), and long-range air-strike functionality. It already has almost 450 fifth-generation fighter plane, and is flight-testing two sixth-generation fighters.
In Egypt, PLAAF is utilizing the aerial train to coach in air-combat techniques, air-superiority operations, fight search and rescue, and power employment. It additionally goals to hone its functionality to function a fight power in an unfamiliar atmosphere and acquire sensible familiarity with subtle Western fighters.
They need the French plane to change into much less unfamiliar to Chinese language pilots. Whereas the essential Rafale (F3) with Egypt is just like that with India, India has the F3R with “India-specific enhancements.” India additionally follows totally different techniques and plane employment philosophy.
The US Worldwide Visitors in Arms Laws (ITAR) at present block the provision of SCALP cruise missiles to Egypt. The Meteor AAM has reportedly nonetheless not been cleared for Egypt attributable to US and Israeli objections. China will nonetheless have the ability to perceive Rafale’s total dealing with, maneuverability, and tactical employment.
The IAF is monitoring the extent and kinds of aerial engagements between the 2 platforms. Fighter pilots are gaining sensible publicity to the Rafale, its flight traits, and the way Rafale crews make use of it in air-to-air engagements in progressively extra advanced situations.
Chinese language may even be taught Western briefing and debriefing strategies and instruments. In such workout routines, the Chinese language can glean a whole lot of data from the Egyptian air and floor crew throughout each skilled and social engagements. The Chinese language could request alternate flights on each varieties.
Realizing that the Egyptian Rafale have been partaking with the PLAAF J-16 fighters, the Chief of the French Armed Forces Basic Employees arrived in Cairo on twenty fourth August on the head of a high-level army delegation. France and NATO members generally have maintained a eager curiosity in studying in regards to the J-16, and will search to take action by means of protection ties with Egypt.
So, whereas the PLAAF IS learning the Rafale, Egypt and NATO allies are additionally gaining insights into the Chinese language preventing ecosystem, together with J-16s, Y-20 airlifters, YY-20A aerial tankers, the Y-9LG airborne Stand-Off Jammer (SOJ), the KJ-500 AEW&C plane, and Z-20 tactical utility helicopters.
The train is of curiosity to India. India has plans to accumulate one other 114 Rafale beneath the Multi-Position Fighter Plane (MRFA) program. China needs to know the extra subtle and operationally related platform.
India would additionally prefer to be taught extra in regards to the J-16, regardless that it already has the even higher Su-30MKI. India workout routines with the Egyptians and UAE and can get some oblique insights. Indian Air Attache’ can be monitoring inputs. The French too will get inputs of curiosity to India.
Whereas some are hyping up China’s deployment of its J-16s to greater than 6,000 kilometers in Egypt, India has been deploying for workout routines at a lot bigger distances, as much as Alaska.
India doesn’t maintain direct workout routines with China, nevertheless it drills with the very best who’ve comparable or higher capabilities. India has been routinely training for the final 20 years that trendy air warfare is just not about one plane versus one other, however about built-in methods meshed by sensors, data-links, digital warfare, tankers, AEW&C plane, and satellites.
The Eagles of Civilization 2026 train is not going to determine whether or not the J-16 or the Rafale is the higher fighter. It provides the PLAAF a have a look at Western jets that India additionally operates, whereas giving Egypt, France, and NATO a have a look at China’s heavy fighter bundle removed from house.
- Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retired) is an Indian Air Power veteran, fighter take a look at pilot, and ex-director-general of the Middle for Air Energy Research. He has been adorned with gallantry and distinguished service medals throughout his 40-year tenure within the IAF.
- He tweets @Chopsyturvey
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