India welcomes first batch of Rafale fighter jets

MrMag00

I never heard of these jets. I guess they are French made? Anybody have a military level experience with these and capabilities? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU5TSwJFxzw

MrMag00

I personally am a fan of the A-10. This is what I worked on in the AF and if I was to fly something as a personal jet, this would be it. I get to see these fly on  a regular basis out of Davis Monthan AFB. Still great to watch. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cix6Gmz1cPQ

Don McManus

India has an interesting fleet, and are still ordering aircraft from Russia, the US, GB, and France.
I have to think maintenance logistics is a nightmare.

The Rafale is an enhanced 4th generation fighter, meaning its avionics and targeting systems are state of the art, but it is not a stealth aircraft, though does employ cost effective stealth technology in the basic shape.  Absent data out of China, the only true 5th generation fighter is pretty much the F-22, with full stealth technology and super-cruise capable.  

Hopefully someone with a more in depth knowledge of the Rafale will respond.

mark christian

The Rafale is a beautiful aircraft. Come to think of it, I don't think I have ever seen a design from Dassasult Aviation which wasn't eye catching. 

Rocky Raab

The French make damn good fighters. That one is among the latest and it is no slouch. The plane is only half the equation, of course, with the pilot being the other half - or a bit more. It's the old story of the workman and his tools.

dreher

How old is that video??  As the news was scrolling at the bottom I saw a 2004 date.

MrMag00

Don't know, but I never heard of this aircraft, and the article date was yesterday. Thus, I am asking questions about it. It does look like a beautiful aircraft, but what are its capabilities?  As far as the spliced on info strip at the bottom, don't know if that was current timeline or reposted. Many folks really like the woman reporting, so maybe it is older, but not sure. 

Other articles indicate this is current
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-53573878

https://twitter.com/DefenceMinIndia/status/1288394301639028736

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/landed-french-rafale-fighter-jets-reach-india-200729111414266.html

bpost

They look like targets for the F-15EX, F-22 and F-35 to me....Just sayin'