New Delhi: India had carried out precision airstrikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. The operation, codenamed ‘Operation Sindoor’, targeted nine terror-linked locations across Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bahawalpur, Rawalakot, Chakswari, Bhimber, Neelum Valley, Jhelum, and Chakwal.
These strikes were conducted using India’s powerful Rafale fighter jets, equipped with Scalp missiles and Hammer precision bombs. Let’s see how India’s Rafales are as compared to Pakistan’s F-16 Fighting Falcons.
Who makes jets?
Rafale is a twin-engine, 4.5 generation fighter jet made by France’s Dassault Aviation. F-16 is a single-engine, fourth-generation jet developed by General Dynamics and manufactured by Lockheed Martin in the US.
Electronics and radar systems
The Rafale is more modern and comes with stealth features, thanks to its semi-stealth airframe. According to The First Post reports, it also has an advanced AESA radar (RBE2-AA) that helps it detect enemies at a longer range and more accurately.
It includes India-specific upgrades like:
- Meteor missiles: Powerful beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles with a range of 120 km.
- SPECTRA Electronic Warfare suite: Can jam, deceive, and counter enemy radars and missiles.
- X-Guard decoy system: Helps the aircraft avoid enemy missiles by misleading their tracking systems.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s F-16s are fitted with:
- AIM-120C5 AMRAAMs, with a BVR range of about 100 km.
- JDAMs (Joint Direct Attack Munitions); precision-guided bombs.
While effective, these systems are older and less advanced than what the Rafale offers.
Combat advantage: Rafale vs F-16
In long-range combat, Rafale is clearly ahead. Its Meteor missile has the largest “no-escape zone”, meaning if a Rafale fires first, the target is very likely to be hit.
In close-range dogfights, F-16s are known for their agility due to their lightweight design and good thrust-to-weight ratio. But getting close to a Rafale is difficult, because Rafales are designed to engage from longer distances and avoid being tracked easily.
Maintenance and restrictions
According to India Today reports, Pakistan has around 75 F-16s, but they face maintenance issues and tight US controls, meaning they are officially allowed only for defensive use. India has no such restrictions with Rafales and can use them freely in offensive operations.
