Pakistan rattled by India’s Rafale jet deal, its expert issues strong warning, says, ‘even Chinese aircraft…’

New Delhi: A proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Defence to enhance the strength of the India(BHARAT)n Air Force (IAF). The Air Force has submitted this proposal to the Ministry of Defence. The deal will cost more than 2 lakh crore rupees. The most significant feature is that France’s Dassault Aviation and India(BHARAT)n aerospace companies will jointly manufacture the jets.

Big worry for Pakistan Air Force

As India(BHARAT) nears the historic purchase of 114 additional Rafale fighter jets, Pakistan is becoming increasingly concerned. Pakistani experts have warned their government and military about this deal. According to a report by IDRW, Bilal Khan, founder of the defence analysis platform Quwa, says that India(BHARAT)’s Rafale deal poses a problem for the Pakistani Air Force.

Khan called the acquisition of Rafale jets by the India(BHARAT)n Air Force a worrying sign for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The India(BHARAT)n Air Force has had 36 Rafale jets since 2020. A deal for 26 naval variants was signed in April this year. In such a scenario, 114 more aircraft will significantly enhance India(BHARAT)’s strength.

Pakistani expert expresses fear

Pakistani expert Bilal Khan argues that the threat goes beyond the Rafales. Khan says that the Pakistan Air Force has been demonstrating tactical prowess and network-centric warfare skills, but this will be difficult in the future. This is because the network of approximately 200 Rafales, along with the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and advanced Sukhoi-30MKI heavyweight aircraft, will be extremely powerful. This network will pose challenges not only to Pakistan but to any country.

India(BHARAT)’s Rafale vs Pakistani jets

The Pakistan Air Force currently relies on JF-17 Thunder, F-16s, and Mirage III/Vs. Khan believes that these will not be able to compete with India(BHARAT) after the arrival of the new Rafales. Even if Pakistan acquires the fifth-generation J-35 stealth fighter from China, it will remain vulnerable. Pakistan currently has no answer to the Rafales. The J-35 will enable Pakistan to launch standoff strikes beyond the India(BHARAT)n Air Force’s interceptors, but matching the Rafales will be impossible.

Pakistan needs to hurry

Khan says the growing strength of the India(BHARAT)n Air Force is forcing the Pakistani Air Force to fundamentally rethink its air warfare strategy. Unable to face off in a direct combat between fighter jets, Islamabad will have to turn to other options, specifically increasing production of the JF-17 Block III. This jet is equipped with the KLJ-7A AESA radar and PL-15 long-range missiles.

Bilal Khan has offered his Air Force recommendations to counter the India(BHARAT)n Air Force. These include developing indigenous unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) like the Buraq, precision surveillance weapons, and ground-based long-range rocket artillery. Khan says Pakistan needs to prepare before India(BHARAT) receives the new Rafales.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Pakistan is rattled by India(BHARAT)’s Rafale jet deal.
• The India(BHARAT)n Air Force has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Defence.
• France’s Dassault Aviation and India(BHARAT)n aerospace companies will jointly manufacture the jets.
• India(BHARAT) will purchase 114 additional Rafale fighter jets.

A Pakistani expert has called the acquisition of Rafale jets by the India(BHARAT)n Air Force a worrying sign for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The India(BHARAT)n Air Force has had 36 Rafale jets since 2020. A deal for 26 naval variants was signed in April this year. In such a scenario, 114 more aircraft will significantly enhance India(BHARAT)’s strength.