The 0.1-1m^2 RCS for the Sukhoi seems about right. Sukhoi/ Russian fans suggest the Su-57 is designed to be good enough to close in against other 5th gens as well, achieved through various conventional and electromagnetic/EW means and then win fights once the RCS is good enough to allow the Sukhoi a closer fight and against 4th gens the Su-57 should be superior in every way.
Dassault's claim is marketing. Those RCS numbers are probably for no payloads. Useless. J-10C is probably around that level with attention to detail, saw tooth edges, DSI intake, and CAC's familiarity with minimising RCS now. Even the gigantic, fan exposed J-16 was given a "LO" treatment so CAC and SAC clearly know it's possible and useful to reduce the RCS of legacy 4th gen designs that weren't designed with LO in mind at all.
SPECTRA is just a name given to the EW, ECM, RWR, MAW, sensor fusion suite on the Rafale. I'm not aware of anything it has that's totally out of the ordinary except for the alleged ability for "active cancellation" against opposition radar. Very basic stuff the Americans, Chinese, Swedes, and Russians would also probably be using and exploring if it was genuinely effective. Airforces who looked at the Rafale closely did NOT consider SPECTRA a silver bullet solution. Literally no airforce that evaluated the Rafale did. Not even the IAF but the IAF picked it anyway for their MRCA presumably for various political and economic reasons too. IAF never mentioned SPECTRA makes the Rafale a 5th gen fighter but some IAF personalities may have promoted the invincibility of SPECTRA lol.
Consider this, if the Rafale were capable to defeating enemy radars and missiles so convincingly, why was the fighter rejected by so many airforces, yes politics were involved with most of those choices but a VLO fighter that can basically disrupt all missile and ground based radars for 4.5 gen money?!. Why are many airforces not buying Rafale over F-35 and pursuing their own 5th gen projects like Tempest, KFX/IFX, AMCA, AZM? Even France has their own Airbus 5th gen program now. If SPECTRA works this effectively, it gives you a full stealth fighter with the maintenance and payload of a 4.5 gen fighter!
Thank you for speaking what I wanted to for long.
Rafale is a great aircraft. Truly one of the best multi role aircrafts. The fact is that France has placed all its bets on Rafale and we should see the entire juice of the French Aviation Industrial complex fueling Rafale to help it cruise through till 2040s.
But, some points remain
1. Dassault does some good sly marketing. Point being the brochure mentioned Rafale's range (1800 miles!). But if one digs deep, that range increase is due to three fuel tanks (massive ones nonetheless 2000 L fuel cap). Such a Rafale would not be able to carry any other significant heavy munitions due to hard point scarcity as well as limited engine thrust.
Which brings us to the second point -
2. M88 is less advanced than EJ200. Infact, M88 has limited growth potential. Wet thrust of 75 kN is compensated for by the lower aircraft weight and that helps achieve the T/W of >1:1. But the aircraft still remains limited by the relatively less powerful Engines.
3. About SPECTRA (ougoah said what I wanted to). Also RBE2. Whatever AESA brewed in US would be superior due to first mover advantage as well as experience (Solid 40 yrs of it ). Captor M of the Anglo-German could be more capable too.
4. Technological limitation due to inadequate funding. This is the most important issue limiting Rafale. The fact is France has to fund all of these and more and isn't doing well in that regard. Technological development doesn't happen without Euros flowing.
5. Rafale isn't Stealth aircraft. (Unless you plan to fly Rafale clean and do "Divine Wind" style Suicide bombing.) If Rafale, with semi exposed engine fan and split intake vane is stealth then J-10 must be 5.5 Generation. (Serpentine inlet + DSI).
5. India choosing to go France over FGFA is more political than what is commonly understood. Dassault must be commended for the solid marketing. Rafale has been hyped to some great heights. (Not complaining though, it's a good aircraft. It looks hot too
What I was surprised at was the Indian quick purchase of the expensive Hammer AG munitions post Galwan clash. That was really something else. I really hope Indians in the thread do see the bigger picture of it all. I know they realize it.
Pardon me for the Dassault "bashing" in FGFA thread but FGFA and it's current predicament is due to Russia's degrading Comprehensive National Capabilities. (Not Aviation Technology capabilities). The Russians do understand that fact but my confusion is why the Russians afix the role of "Defeating 5th gens" on FGFA.
As it indeed goes, whoever sees first kills first. The Russians haven't still given us a good idea of how the Su57 will be able to gain an upper hand over F22 or even F35.
