scatterStorm
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I agree on some points, like hardpoints, but I'd add a different perspective to this discussion. If a mirage fighter pilot would go out against Tejas, he'd simply won't allow Tejas pilot to gain advantage of the flight performances (vice-versa) but I am at Mirage camp here (for now) for this discussion with following parameters:
1. Loadout configuration
2. ∝
3. Avoiding STR fight a.k.a rate-fight
4. Rate of climb & Speed
#1. Loadout configuration
At 50% fuel with 2x AAM
In the DCS video, the mirage is having WVR combat with guns only, so its at its bare minimum configuration. Its fighting the hornet (not super hornet). If the hornet is flying bare min. configuration, it will be comparable to Tejas with T/W (1.13 at 50% fuel and 2x AAM)
T/W:
Mirage = 0.7
F18 hornet = ~1.13 or lets take 0.96 (official)
Tejas = 1.07
Difference is of 0.26 ~ 0.2 or 0.3 of Tejas.
Meaning Mirage was already fighting a jet with better T/W than it has.#2 What about alpha?
Hornet is already a better turn-rate fighter than mirage, a hornet pilot will always want to take the fight to STR but at a better altitude to gain Rate-of-descent advantage. Although it enjoys Stall-maneuver, its ineffective in actual combat. Why would you loose so much energy? Mirage fighter will have advantage of Rate of climb with higher speeds. (discussed in later points)
So STR is out of the question. (considering an actual french figher pilot blew an F18 in DCS)What about high alpha (ITR)?
High alpha fights are rare, considering a single maneuver will command a loss of too much energy and is only essential during tight merges with single-loop fights.
(USAF pilots always try single loop fights at high energy) but at higher altitudes. (check the F16 fighter manual or ask me I'll provide it)What about Tejas?
Tejas is a delta with better STR and can't say about ITR (because ITR also depends on speed) and at max of 1.8 Mach, its engine or its air-intakes are limiting it, hence the ITR being close to 23⁰ against a 26⁰ ( those figures could be marketing dumps too).
(1.6 is overruled a while ago, at FOC trials it reached 1.8, similar to F18 hornet, hence comparable speeds)
Mirage A.o.A is less compared to that too.
So what changed the game by the actual French pilot?#4. Rate of climb and Speed
1. Mirage pilot would put Tejas into a speed-chase (increased kinematic performance), the overpowered engine would simply reach higher mac numbers at vertical climb than Tejas.
Why?
Because rate-of-climb should be complimented at high mach numbers to achieve single-loop fights. Higher altitude also means, you get to use rate-of-descent for avoiding STRs and putting a low-breathing jet into a stall (see second point).2. It would make distance, (compliments the former point no.1 ) to avoid STR situation.
3. Because of the underperforming air-intakes, and at higher altitude, Mirage pilot could push Tejas to a stall. (Actual account of Mirage doing it to Mig-21s during 6-days war, considering Mig-21 is a ITR beast)
So ITR is also out of question. 4. To further prove my point
Conclusions: Its all about knowing how you want to take the fight, or understanding your jet, it doesn't matter how good your flight-parameters or aerodynamic performance is (yes, it does have advantages) but at actual engagements, pilot training and assisted avionics will win the fight.
