Rafale – A Game Changer
Col. Dev Anand
It is being dubbed as “game changers” by many thinkers around the globe. And early delivery of Rafale is a clear signal of trust in Bharat enjoys in the international community
Five Rafale fighter jets of the IAF that took off from Merignac in France on 27 July 2020 travelling about 7,000 km with a night stopover in the UAE touched down at Ambala on Wednesday in the middle of the ongoing military confrontation with China which could extend to the winters, or even beyond. Group Capt Harkirat Singh of the “17 Golden Arrows team” comprising of Wing Commanders MK Singh, R Kataria, Sidhu and Arun were given traditional welcome with water cannons at Ambala air base on 29 Jul 2020. Bharat had bought 36 twin-engine fighter planes from Dassault Rafale for 3.7 Billion $ ( Rs 58,000 crore) through an inter-governmental agreement signed in 2016. These are first imported jets being inducted into the IAF after gap of 23 years since 1977 when the Russian Sukhoi-30 jets were inducted.
Of the ten delivered so far, five are in France for training. Pilots and support personnel of the Indian Air Force have been given complete training about the aircraft and the weapon systems by France. IAF batches will continue to be trained in France for the next nine months. The delivery of all 36 aircraft will be completed by the end of 2021.Thirty will be fighter jets and six will be twin seater trainers with similar features of the fighter jets.
It is being dubbed as “game-changers” by many thinkers around the globe and is indeed going to be one as this has both strategic and national ramifications for Bharat. Early delivery of Rafale is a clear signal of trust in Bharat enjoys in the international community and at the same time with holding of supply of S-400 missile system by Russia to China is one of lack of trust in China.
Rafales are extremely swift, versatile, 4.5 Generation and deadly “Smart Aerial Machine with Smart Weapons”. Equipped with a wide range of weapons designed for Omni role with four mission capability in single sortie. It’s capable to performing interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support role and beyond visual range precision strike including ground and sea targets with nuclear deterrence. The deadly weapon systems, advanced avionics, sophisticated radars and state of art electronic warfare systems make it currently an invincible platform in sky.
The aircraft is capable of carrying a wide range of potent missile systems like Meteor, MICA, Scalp and HEMMER. Each Rafale can carry maximum of six missiles including two fire-and-forget Scalp cruise missiles for high-value fortified targets well over 250 kms of range. The Meteor missiles with 150 km range are one of the best air to air missiles in the world for air combat with no-escape zone for hostile fighters.
The upgrades like Israeli helmet-mounted displays and low-band jammers to towed decoy systems, 10-hour flight data recording and engine capability for “cold start” in sub Zero & high-altitude regions make it the best all terrain /all weather aerial platform in IAF combat inventory.
Its unique Stealth capability with Solid state transmitter system makes it almost invisible on any radar screen, electronic scanning radar with capability to scan multiple targets with lock and engage eight targets at any given time, mid fighter to fighter mid air refueling ability and holographic cockpit makes it first of its kind in the world . With proven operational track record in Iraq/Libiya/Afganistan, higher range of engagement for a target as far as 300 km of distance, High altitude subzero capability , speed of 2 Mac and combat range of 1600 km gives it higher survivability in combat Zone.
The Rafale jets has various Bharat specific modifications, including Israeli helmet-mounted displays, radar warning receivers, low-band jammers, 10-hour flight data recording, infra-red search and tracking systems. Rafale has unique HOTAS (ands on throttle and stick system). This means the pilot can use the throttle and stick to control the entire spectrum of the operations. Rafale’s throttle and stick have 36 switches on them. “Each switch has four distinct movements that are meant for specific operations.
Pakistan and China currently do not have any aerial platform with weaponry of this class in their combat inventories. Closest to raffles is Chinas J-20 so claimed to be 5th Generation aircraft which is devoid of any combat experience and certification. In spite of China’s claims of its J-20 being a 5th generation aircraft, Rafale is a far superior in weapon system, stealth technology and aveinics.
If the J-20 was the best, why would the Chinese go for the Russian Su-35.
The second squadron of Rafale will be stationed at Hasimara base in West Bengal. The IAF has created adequate required infrastructure like shelters, hangars and maintenance facilities at the two bases.
