India has sealed a massive defence procurement contract, worth an impressive ₹3.25 lakh crore, for 114 state-of-the-art F4 standard fighter jets from French manufacturer Dassault. This deal is a major boost for the Indian Air Force (IAF), which began with the procurement of 36 jets back in 2016.
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This expansion will take India’s fleet of Rafale fighters past 150 aircraft, thus tilting the regional military aerospace balance against China and Pakistan.
Rafale F4 Deal: Why It Is a Game-Changer for India
The Rafale F4 standard will include upgrades such as advanced avionics, better fusion of sensors, satellites, communication, and the concept of NCW. Its biggest advantage is the Meteor beyond-visual-range missile, which has a range of approximately 150 km, including a “no-escape zone.”
Compared to competitors such as the PL-15 used by China or the AMRAAM employed by Pakistan, the Meteor offers higher dependability and combat history. The Rafale’s multi-role potential in air superiority, deep attack missions, reconnaissance, and nuclear deterrence provides the IAF with tactical flexibility.
Significantly, the jets areoptimized for the high-altitude conditions of the Himalayan Mountains. Fleet readiness is said to exist around an average of 75%, and this is an advantage in sustained combat situations.
The J-20 Challenge: Numbers vs Quality
The PLA Air Force of China operates more than 200 Chengdu J-20 stealth fighters and is ramping up production at a very fast rate. On paper, Beijing has numerical superiority.
But experts flag issues about the reliability of the engine and the maturity of sensors. While the J-20 is a fifth-generation stealth aircraft, it lacks combat-proven Meteor-class missile capability. High-altitude operations near the Himalayas also stretch Chinese aircraft’s performance.
Pakistan’s FC-31 Bet: A Limited Counter
The Pakistan Air Force operates a mix of F-16s and JF-17s and is inducting the Shenyang FC-31 as a Rafale counter. Integration delays, training gaps, and lower fleet readiness weaken its immediate impact.
