You all know that India has recently carried out an air strike on several locations in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor and in this air strike, India used its advanced fighter jet Rafale, which is a 4.5th generation fighter jet given by France.
In today’s article, we will know what is the difference between India’s Rafale and Pakistan’s F16 fighter jets and what are their specialties.
Rafale is a 4.5th generation fighter aircraft built by the French company Dassault Aviation, while the F16 is a multi-mission fourth generation fighter jet built by the US.
America had made 4600 pieces of F-16 out of which 3000 F16 are serving in the various country.
The Rafale deal between India and France was signed in 2016 and its first delivery was given by France in 2019 and after this the entire delivery was made in 2022.
Size and load capacity
If we talk about the size of Rafale and F-16, then the height of Rafale is 5.34 meters, its length is 15.27 meters and its width is 20.8 meters, apart from this its wingspan is 10.8 meters whereas the length of F-16 is 15 meters its wingspan is 9.44 meters. Height of F-16 is 5.09 m.
If we talk about load taking capacity then Rafale can carry 24500 kg whereas F16 can carry 21272 kg.
Thus, when we talk about size and load taking capacity, it becomes clear that Rafale is bigger than F-16 in terms of size and load taking capacity.
Special qualities of rafel and f16
F16 is a single engine fighter aircraft and creates a thrust of 29000 lbs due to which it can achieve a maximum speed of 2 Mach.
The range of f16 is 4216 km and 547 km its combat radius. It can reach up to 50,000 feet at a speed of 820 feet per second i.e. its service ceiling is 50,000 feet.
Rafale is a twin engine fighter aircraft. The engine installed in it generates a thrust of 34000 lbs due to which its speed is 1.8 km. Rafale can bear a maximum take off weight of 54000 lbs. Its range is 3701 km.
The combat radius of Rafale is 1851 km and it can go up to 52000 feet at a speed of 1000 feet per second i.e. the service ceiling of Rafale is 52000 feet.
Radar capacity of Rafale and F16
F16 is fitted with a radar called APG-83 which can target 20 objects up to 85 miles.
Along with spectra, radio technology has also been installed in Rafale which can target 40 such smallest objects up to 90 miles.
Missile in rafel and F-16
The main feature of the Rafale fighter is the weapons installed in it. A missile named Meteor has been installed in Rafale which has a range of more than 150 kilometers.
One of the best features of Rafael’s Meteor is that it has a 60 kilometer long ‘no escape zone’. This is such a zone that all the targets coming inside it are either completely destroyed or will not be able to survive.
F16 has been fitted with an advanced medium range air to air missile which has a range of about 100 km, its range is slightly less.
Rafale is also equipped with Scalp cruise missile and Hammer bomb which makes it very advanced whereas no such cruise missile has been fitted in Pakistan’s F-16.
Difference between Rafale and F-16
- Rafale is a 4.5th generation fighter aircraft while f16 is a 4th generation fighter aircraft.
- Rafale can fly up to a height of 52000 feet whereas F16 can fly up to a height of 50000 feet.
- Rafale’s load taking capacity is more than F16, so its maximum speed is 1.8 Mach whereas F16’s maximum speed is Mach 2.
- Rafale has a range of 3701 km with 1851 km combat radius while F-16 has a range of 4216 km with 547 km combat radius.
- Rafale is equipped with advanced and cruise missiles like Meteor and Scalp whereas F16 does not have cruise missiles, it only has medium range and air to air missiles.
Conclusion
After looking at many aspects we come to the conclusion that there are some matters in which Rafale is better than F16, like the missile system installed in it is quite good.
Although Rafale can carry a little more load, so its speed is slightly less than F16, but if we look at the speed of both, they are almost the same.
Both fighter jets can also take on nuclear warheads.
It is very clear that the missile system, radar system and load taking capacity of Rafale is slightly different from F-16.