Dassault #Rafale will join #IndianAirforce at the end of this month,Ambala AFB on the side of #Pakistan border. How does this change equation for #PAF? Modern aerial warfare is not limited to
platform🆚platform but
“Set of systems of a system 🆚 Set of systems of a system”🧵👇
platform🆚platform but
“Set of systems of a system 🆚 Set of systems of a system”🧵👇
First of all this isn’t new for #IAF & their defence circle to start singing bhajans of new god. It has happened before
“Su-30MKI Flankers with it's 400km range, "Mini-AWAC," incorporating Western Avionics such as the french SAGEM GPS & the israeli EL/M-8222 EW Suite.” Ring a 🔔
“Su-30MKI Flankers with it's 400km range, "Mini-AWAC," incorporating Western Avionics such as the french SAGEM GPS & the israeli EL/M-8222 EW Suite.” Ring a 🔔
#Rafale of course is a modern & capable fighter with a good payload/range. However in the scheme of a systems of a system aerial campaign, the individual capability of an aircraft is less than the totality of interlinked combat aircraft,AEW&C,EW/ECM & your own offensive counter
Now once that taken into account 18 Rafales at Ambala look like just one piece of jigsaw called air power which needs all systems to form a system that creates deterrence as well as provides an option to impose cost on enemy. That didn’t happen last year despite Nos/edge of IAF
#PAF doesn’t have to counter Rafale right now as there is time before IAF gets it properly inducted and have sufficient training hours/assigns role of this squadron. Trust me they won’t be coming right after landing nor flying to Ladakh. There is small window available to prepare
Situational awareness assets like 8 x Saab-2000 Eyerie & 4 x Karakoram Eagle (ZDK-03) outnumber IAF’s #SA assets by a big margin so there will always be Angels & Eagles up to guide interlinked airborne assets. Moreover DA-20 Falcon EW aircraft proved its worth in OP Swift Retort
For the PAF, ways to "counter" the Rafale could include large fleet of JF-17 Blk-III & export PL-15 variant, enhance their AEW&C fleet & datalinking capabilities, enhancement of EW systems, upgrading their existing JF-17 Blk-II with AESA & subsystems to enable PL-15 carriage.
All this can be done without breaking bank as most of it is already in pipeline. EW/Jamming aircraft procurement is must including keeping up existing DA-20 to cutting edge with upgrades. There are chances that HAVASOJ will be procured to enhance EW capabilities along with Drones
PAF just needs to keep up with its upgrade plan and all should be taken care off. Once number of PL-15/AMRAAM carrying assets are airbone for CAP that’s enough to keep enemy at bay. FD-2000/HQ-9 is already either in service or will be in service along with SPADA-2000/LY-80(HQ-16)
Nothing dramatic is needed, 18 Rafale on their own are not much of threat but in a strike package like last year will be huge threat as Meteor has largest No Escape Zone along with SCALP cruise missile to hit targets that Spice-2000 missed. PL-15E can negate that with its range
PL-15 has dual pluse motor with reported range of 150km+ meaning IAF will have to take this into account along with AMRAAM. PL-15 to me is next gen PL-12 with increased range/propulsion. “Large,Slow,non-manoeuvrable tragets” isn’t the job of PL-15 otherwise it won’t be on J-10C
Option is available if PAF’s planners think that F-16s fleet need a bump which right now is enough then J-10C can procured in limited numbers. F-16V upgrade would resolve this issue but world is changing and there is no time to play games in corridors of Washington for that. End
