Explainer | How did China’s J-10C match up to French Rafale in India-Pakistan aerial clash?
Claims that Indian-owned fighters were shot down by Pakistan’s Vigorous Dragon jets suggest significant firsts for both aircraft
More significantly, it would signal a victory for the Chinese military asset over the Nato-standard mainstay Western fighter in its first battlefield encounter.
In contrast, the Rafale’s customers include Greece, Croatia, Egypt, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Last month, India signed a US$7.4 billion contract with France to add 26 more Rafales to its fleet.
Both the Rafale and J-10C are 4.5-generation fighters, which means they feature significant improvements on less-advanced aircraft but do not fully reach fifth-generation standard.
The French fighter is widely considered to be one of the world’s most capable aircraft in this class, but how does the J-10C compare?