India shoots down Pakistan’s US-made F-16 fighter jet — is it better than India’s Rafale or…

India shoots down Pakistan’s US-made F-16 fighter jet — is it better than India’s Rafale or…

Rafale vs F-16: Indian Armed Forces reportedly shot down three fighter jets of Pakistan when they attempted to attack Jammu on Thursday evening. As per reports, India neutralised three Pakistani fighter jets, including a US-made F-16 fighter jet. Two JF-17s were also shot down as Islamabad retaliated after Operation Sindoor. During Operation Sindoor, Indian Armed Forces used French-made Rafale jets to destroy nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The jets were equipped with Scalp missiles and HAMMER precision bombs. The Rafale fighter jets performed the operation successfully and returned to their bases.

In retaliation Pakistan on Thursday evening attempted to target military and civilian sites in Jammu, RS Pura, Chani Himat, and surrounding areas. India’s advanced air defence systems, including S-400 and Akash systems, successfully intercepted the Pakistani missiles and drones.

As per initial details, Indian Armed Forces has destroyed 8 drone or missiles attempted to attack Jammu.

Indian air defences also successfully repelled an attempted incursion by a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet that launched from Sargodha and approached Jammu.

Rafale vs F-16: Which Is Better in War

Electronics and Weapons

The French-made Rafale jets have a low radar signature because of their semi-stealth airframe. These fighter jets are also loaded with advanced AESA radar (RBE2-AA).

Indian Rafale fighter jets, armed with Scalp (Storm Shadow) missiles and Hammer bombs, boast thirteen unique enhancements. These upgrades, reported by India Today, include the Meteor Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) missile, advanced electronic warfare capabilities, and improved radar and communication systems. The aircraft’s SPECTRA electronic warfare suite is considered the most advanced in the Rafale fleet, enabling active jamming, threat detection, radar decoy deployment, and the neutralization of enemy radars and surface-to-air missiles.

• Indian Rafale fighter jets boast advanced radar capabilities, detecting up to 40 targets from 145 kilometers.
• The Rafale’s radar system can disrupt and mimic enemy radar signals, potentially hindering the effectiveness of aircraft such as the Pakistani F-16.
• The jets utilise the X-Guard fibre-optic towed decoy system as a countermeasure against air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles.
• The combination of advanced radar and decoy systems significantly enhances the Rafale’s survivability in combat scenarios.
• These features distinguish the Indian Rafale fleet from other fighter jets in the region.

Capability of F-16

Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets are armed with AIM-120C5 AMRAAM missiles and JDAM guided bombs.

F-16 or Rafale, Which is better?

When both the fighter jets are compared, there is no doubt that India’s Rafale is a better fighter jet. Although the AMRAAM of Pakistan’s F-16 initially created concerns for the Indian Army, but after the arrival of Rafale, loaded with BVR missiles, completely changed the game.

India’s Rafale fighter jets are loaded with a significant advantage over Pak’s F-16s in beyond-visual-range combat. The Rafale’s Meteor missile are capable of targeting a longer range (120 km) target than the F-16’s AMRAAM missile that has a range of only 100 km, creating a larger “no-escape zone” for the Rafale. The longer range capability makes it more difficult for an F-16 to evade a Meteor missile.

The Rafale’s superior electronics, stealth capabilities, and advanced radar system give it a major advantage over the F-16, particularly in long-range engagements. While the F-16 excels in close-quarters combat due to its agility, closing the distance against the Rafale presents a considerable challenge.