Su-35 vs Rafale

lion

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The first variant was designed during the 1980s, when Sukhoi was seeking to upgrade its high-performance Su-27, and was initially known as the Su-27M. Later re-designated Su-35, this derivative incorporated aerodynamic refinements to increase manoeuvrability, enhanced avionics, longer range, and a more powerful engine. The first Su-35 prototype, converted from a Su-27, made its maiden flight in June 1988. More than a dozen of these were built, some of which were used by the Russian Knights aerobatic demonstration team. The first Su-35 design was later modified into the Su-37, which possessed thrust-vectoring engines and was used as a technology demonstrator. A sole Su-35UB two-seat trainer was built in the late 1990s that, despite its name, shares a strong resemblance to the Su-30MK family.
In 2003, Sukhoi embarked on a second modernization of the Su-27 to produce what the company calls a 4++ generation fighter that would serve as an interim fighter prior to the arrival of the Sukhoi PAK FA. This derivative, while omitting the canards and air brake, incorporates a reinforced airframe, improved avionics and radar, thrust-vectoring engines, and a reduced frontal radar signature. In 2008 the revamped variant, erroneously dubbed the Su-35BM in the media, began its flight test programme that would involve four prototypes, one of which was lost in 2009.
The Russian Air Force has ordered 48 production units, designated Su-35S, of the newly revamped Su-35. Both Su-35 models marketed to many countries, including Brazil, China, India and South Korea, but so far have not attracted any export orders. Sukhoi originally projected that it would export more than 160 units of the second modernized Su-35 worldwide.

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 21.9 m (72.9 ft)
Wingspan: 15.3 m (50.2 ft; with wingtip pods)
Height: 5.90 m (19.4 ft)
Wing area: 62.0 m² (667 ft²)
Empty weight: 18,400 kg (40,570 lb)
Loaded weight: 25,300 kg (56,660 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 34,500 kg (76,060 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Saturn 117S with TVC nozzle turbofan
Dry thrust: 8,800 kgf (86.3 kN, 19,400 lbf) each
Thrust with afterburner: 14,500 kgf (142 kN, 31,900 lbf) each
Fuel capacity: 14,350 litres (3,790 US gal)
Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 2.25 (2,390 km/h, 1,490 mph) at altitude
Range:
High altitude: 3,600 km (1,940 nmi)
Ground level: 1,580 km (850 nmi)
Ferry range: 4,500 km(2,430 nmi)with 2 external fuel tanks
Service ceiling: 18,000 m (59,100 ft)
Rate of climb: >280 m/s (>55,100 ft/min)
Wing loading: 408 kg/m² (84.9 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 1.13
Armament
Guns: 1× 30 mm GSh-30 internal cannon with 150 rounds
Hardpoints: 14 hardpoints, consting of 2 wingtip rails, and 12 wing and fuselage stations with a capacity of 8,000 kg (17,630 lb) of ordnance, and provisions to carry combinations of:
Rockets:
S-25L laser-guided rocket
S-25 unguided rocket
B-8 unguided S-8 rocket pods
B-13 unguided S-13 rocket pods
Missiles:
Vympel R-27R/ER/T/ET
Vympel R-77 – the proposed R-77M, R-77T
Vympel R-73E/M, and R-74M
Kh-29T/L
Kh-31P/A
Kh-59ME
Bombs:
FAB-250 250-kilogram (550 lb) unguided bombs
FAB-500 500-kilogram (1,100 lb) unguided bombs
KAB-500L laser-guided bomb
KAB-1500 laser-guided bomb
Other:
buddy refueling pod
Avionics
Irbis-E passive phased array radar
KNIRTI SAP 14 jamming pod (centreline pylon)[38]
KNIRTI SAP 518 jamming pod (one each on both wingtips)[38]
OLS-35 infra-red search and track system
Khibiny-M electronic warfare suite
 

lion

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The Dassault Rafale (French pronunciation: "‹[ʁafal], squall)[4] is a French twin-engine, canard delta-wing, multirole fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Dassault describes the Rafale as being an omnirole fighter,[5][6] with a high level of agility,[7] capable of simultaneously performing air supremacy, interdiction, reconnaissance, and airborne nuclear deterrent missions. The Rafale is distinct from other European fighters of its era in that it is almost entirely built by one country, involving most of France's major defence contractors, such as Dassault, Thales and Safran.
In the late 1970s, the French Air Force and Navy were seeking to replace and consolidate their current fleets of aircraft. In order to reduce development costs and boost prospective sales, France entered into an arrangement with four other European nations to produce an agile multi-purpose fighter, but subsequent disagreements over workshare and differing requirements led to France's pursuit of its own development program. Dassault built a technology demonstrator which first flew in July 1986 as part of an eight-year flight-test programme, paving the way for the go-ahead of the project.
The Rafale's design and production processes exploited the unprecedented advancements in software technology; these have enabled the integration of formerly individual components and combined with intelligent automated analysis processes, known collectively as data fusion. Many of the aircraft's avionics and features, such as direct voice input (DVI), the RBE2 AA active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and the Optronique secteur frontal (OSF) infra-red search and track sensor, were indigenously developed and produced for the Rafale programme. Originally scheduled to enter service in 1996, post-Cold War budget cuts and changes in priorities contributed to significant delays to the programme.
Introduced in 2001, the Rafale is being produced for both the French Air Force and for carrier-based operations in the French Navy. It has also been marketed for export to several countries, including selection by the Indian Air Force.[8] The Rafale has been used in combat over Afghanistan, Libya, and Mali; features such as the SPECTRA integrated defensive-aids system have been crucial advantages in these theatres. Several upgrades to the radar, engines, and avionics of the Rafale are planned to be introduced in the near-future.

In the mid-1970s, both the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) and Navy (Marine nationale) had requirements for a new generation of fighters to replace those in or about to enter service.[9] Because their requirements were similar, and to reduce cost, both departments issued a common request for proposal.[10] In 1975, the French Ministry of Aviation initiated studies for a new aircraft to complement the upcoming and smaller Mirage 2000, with each aircraft optimised for differing roles.[11]
In 1979, Dassault joined the MBB/BAe "European Collaborative Fighter" (ECA) project which was renamed the "European Combat Aircraft".[12] The French company contributed the aerodynamic layout of prospective twin-engine, single-seat fighter; however, the project collapsed in 1981 due to differing operational requirements of each partner country.[11] In 1983, the "Future European Fighter Aircraft" (FEFA) programme was initiated, bringing together Italy, Spain, West Germany, France and the United Kingdom to jointly develop a new fighter, although the latter three had their own aircraft developments.[13]
A number of factors led to the eventual split between France and the four countries. Around 1984 France reiterated its requirement for a carrier-capable version and demanded a leading role; moreover, France demanded a swing-role fighter that was lighter than a design desired by the other four nations. West Germany, UK and Italy opted out and established a new EFA programme.[9][14] In Turin on 2 August 1985, West Germany, UK and Italy agreed to go ahead with the Eurofighter; and confirmed that France, along with Spain, had chosen not to proceed as a member of the project.[15][16] Despite pressure from France, Spain rejoined the Eurofighter project in early September 1985.[17] The four-nation project would eventually result in the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Radar and sensors[edit]
The Rafale is typically outfitted with the Thales RBE2 passive electronically scanned multi-mode radar. Thales claims to have achieved unprecedented levels of situational awareness through the earlier detection and tracking of multiple air targets for close combat and long-range interception, as well as real-time generation of three-dimensional maps for terrain-following and the real-time generation of high resolution ground maps for navigation and targeting.[74] In early 1994, it was reported that technical difficulties with the radar had delayed the Rafale's development by six months.[54] In September 2006, Flight International reported the Rafale's unit cost had significantly rose due to additional development work to improve the RBE2's detection range.[75]


The OSF is visible upfront, below the cockpit and to the side of the refueling boom
The RBE2 AA active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar is planned to replace the existing passively scanned RBE2. The RBE2 AA is reported to deliver a greater detection range, improved reliability and reduced maintenance demands over the preceding radar.[76] A Rafale demonstrator began test flights in 2002 and has totaled 100 flight hours as of December 2011. By December 2009, production of the pre-series RBE2 AA radars was underway.[73] In early October 2012, the first Rafale equipped with an RBE2 AA radar arrived at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base for operational service; the development was described by Thales and Dassault as "on time and on budget".[76] By early 2014, the first Air Force front-line squadron will receive Rafales equipped with the AESA radar; the French Navy is slated to receive AESA-equipped Rafales from 2013.[77]
To enable the Rafale to perform in the air supremacy role, it includes several passive sensor systems. The front-sector electro-optical system or Optronique Secteur Frontal (OSF), developed by Thales, is completely integrated within the aircraft and can operate both in the visible and infrared wavelengths.[78] The OSF enables the deployment of infrared missiles such as the MICA at beyond visual range distances; it can also be used for detecting and identifying airborne targets, as well as those on the ground and at sea.[79] Dassault describes the OSF as being immune to jamming and capable of providing covert long-range survelliance.[74] In 2012, an improved version of the OSF entered into operational use on the Rafale.[76]

Armaments and standards[edit]
Initial deliveries of the Rafale M were to the F1 ("France 1") standard, these had been equipped for the air-to-air interceptor combat duties, but lacked any armaments for air-to-ground operations.[80] Later deliveries were to the "F2" standard, which added the capability for conducting both air-to-ground and reconnaissance operations; the first F2 standard Rafale M was delivered to the French Navy in May 2006.[81] The Rafale M is the only fixed-wing combat aircraft flown by the Aviation Navale, and plans are to upgrade all airframes to the "F3" standard, with terrain-following 3D radar and nuclear capability, from early in the decade following 2010.[82] Starting in 2008 onwards, Rafale deliveries have been to the F3 standard, it has been reported that all aircraft built to the earlier F1 and F2 standards are to be upgraded to become F3s.[56]


Weapons of the Rafale
F3 standard Rafales are capable of undertaking many different mission roles with a range of equipment: air defence/superiority missions with Mica IR and EM air-to-air missiles, precision ground attacks typically using SCALP EG cruise missiles and AASM Hammer air-to-surface armaments, anti-shipping using the AM39 Exocet sea-skimming missile, reconnaissance via a combination of onboard and external pod-based sensor equipment, and nuclear deterrence operations when armed with ASMP-A missiles.[83] In 2010, France ordered 200 MBDA Meteor beyond visual range missiles, greatly increasing the distance at which the Rafale can engage aerial targets.[5][84]
For compatibility with armaments of varing types and origins, the Rafale's onboard store management system is Mil-Std-1760 compliant, enabling customers to choose to readily incorporate many of their existing weapons and equipment.[51] The Rafale is typically outfitted with 14 hard points, five of which are suitable for heavy armaments or equipment such as auxiliary fuel tanks, and has a maximum external load capacity of nine tons. In addition to the above equipment, the Rafale can be outfitted with a range of laser-guided bombs and ground-attack munitions; all versions of the Rafale also carry the 30 mm GIAT 30 DEFA cannon.[51] According to Dassault, the Rafale's onboard mission systems enable ground attack and air-to-air combat operations to be carried out within a single sortie, with many functions capable of simultaneous execution in conjunction with another, increasing survivability and versatility.[51]

Engines[edit]
Main article: Snecma M88


Closeup of the rear of the airframe and the two engine nozzles
The Rafale is fitted with the Snecma M88 engine, capable of providing up to 50 kN (11,250 lbf) of dry thrust and 75 kN (16,900 lbf) with afterburners. The engines feature several advances, including a non-polluting combustion chamber, single-crystal turbine blades and powder metallurgy disks, and technology to reduce electromagnetic and infrared signatures; Dassault describe the engine as providing "exceptional controllability, especially during acceleration".[51] The M-88 enable the Rafale to supercruise at speeds of up to Mach 1.4 while carrying a loadout of six MBDA MICA air-to-air missiles.[85][86]
In 1996, production of the M88-2 engine began and the first production engine was developed within that year.[87] Due to delays in engine production, some of the early Rafales were temporarily powered by the General Electric F404 engine.[88] In May 2010, a Rafale flew for the first time with the M88-4E engine, an upgraded variant with greater thrust and lower maintenance requirements than the preceding M88-2.[89] The engine is of a modular design for ease of construction and maintenance; it also has enabled older engines to be retrofitted with improved subsections upon availability, such as existing M88-2s being upgraded to M88-4E standard.[87] There has been considerable interest in improved M88 engines by potential export customers, such as the United Arab Emirates.[90] As of 2007, a thrust vectoring variant of the engine designated as M88-3D was also under development.[80]

General characteristics
Crew: 1–2
Length: 15.27 m (50.1 ft)
Wingspan: 10.80 m (35.4 ft)
Height: 5.34 m (17.5 ft)
Wing area: 45.7 m² (492 ft²)
Empty weight:
C: 9,500 kilograms (20,900 lb)
B: 9,770 kilograms (21,540 lb)
M: 10,196 kilograms (22,480 lb[181])
Loaded weight: 14,016 kg (30,900 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 24,500 kg (C/D), 22,200 kg (M) (54,000 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Snecma M88-2 turbofans
Dry thrust: 50.04 kN (11,250 lbf) each
Thrust with afterburner: 75.62 kN (17,000 lbf) each
Fuel capacity: 4,700 kg (10,360 lb) internal
Performance
Maximum speed:
High altitude: Mach 1.8 (1,912 km/h, 1,032 knots)
Low altitude: Mach 1.1 (1,390 km/h, 750 knots)
Range: 3,700+ km (2,000+ nmi)
Combat radius: 1,852+ km (1,000+ nmi)on penetration mission
Service ceiling: 15,235 m (50,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 304.8+ m/s (60,000+ ft/min)
Wing loading: 306 kg/m² (62.8 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.988 (100% fuel, 2 EM A2A missile, 2 IR A2A missile) version M
Armament
Guns: 1× 30 mm (1.18 in) GIAT 30/719B autocannon with 125 rounds
Hardpoints: 14 for Air Force versions (Rafale B/C), 13 for Navy version (Rafale M) with a capacity of 9,500 kg (20,900 lb) external fuel and ordnance and provisions to carry combinations of:
Missiles:
MBDA MICA IR or EM or Magic II and
MBDA Meteor air-to-air missiles in the future
Air-to-ground:
MBDA Apache or
Storm Shadow-SCALP EG or
AASM-Hammer or
GBU-12 Paveway II or
AS-30L
Air-to-surface:
AM 39-Exocet
Deterrence:
ASMP-A nuclear missile
Other:
Thales Damocles targeting pod
AREOS (Airborne Recce Observation System)reconnaissance pod[183]
up to 5 drop tanks
The Rafale can also carry a buddy-buddy refuelling pod[56]
Avionics

Thales RBE2 radar
Thales SPECTRA electronic warfare system.
Thales/SAGEM-OSF Optronique Secteur Frontal infra-red search and track system.
 

p2prada

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Pointless if I must say.

Su-35 has a major air to air advantage while Rafale is way better in air to ground.
 

Rohan Nautiyal

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What about T-50 PakFa???? Is it in production and by when will it be inducted in our IAF
 

rugved

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LOL The Su-35 is better than the Rafale anyday. :laugh:
 

rugved

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What about T-50 PakFa???? Is it in production and by when will it be inducted in our IAF
The Sukhoi T-50 is currently undergoing prototype tests and if I am not mistaken, it will take another 4 years for it to be commissioned in the Russian Air Force. The T-50 will not be built for the IAF but a derivative called of the same called, HAL FGFA is planned. This one will take another decade to be operational.
 

mahesh

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The Sukhoi T-50 is currently undergoing prototype tests and if I am not mistaken, it will take another 4 years for it to be commissioned in the Russian Air Force. The T-50 will not be built for the IAF but a derivative called of the same called, HAL FGFA is planned. This one will take another decade to be operational.
IAF has the order for both T-50 that is PAKFA and Indian variant of two seater FGFA, and PAKFA orders will be fulfilled before FGFA
 

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