European Rival Aircraft: Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale

Why are these two jet fighters on our agenda?

The Eurofighter Typhoon is an alternative to the F-16V, which we are planning to buy to close our deficit of fighter jets for fighter/bomber purposes.  The Dassault Rafale is a fighter jet fighter that Greece, our most serious air threat in our region, has included in its inventory.

In addition, both aircraft are on the agenda of the aviation world due to their performance, export competition, and the fact that they are European equivalents and alternatives to their American and Russian counterparts.

History of European competitors;

In the 1970s, Germany, France and the United Kingdom identified the need for a new fighter aircraft. In line with this need, the European Combat Aircraft (ECA) project was launched. Rafale and Typhoon were born from the roots of this joint project. 

The prototypes that emerged in the early 1980s shared the common feature of having delta wings and canards. The supersonic performance, high maneuverability and Beyond Visual Range (BVR) capabilities expected from the aircraft led countries to these solutions. 

Aerodynamic structural elements, called "canards" in the aviation world, provided more lift to the front nose and wings and increased the maneuvering capacity of the aircraft, and also functioned as air brakes after the aircraft landed.

France needed a smaller aircraft that could be operational on aircraft carriers. In 1981, when it wanted to take the lead on the design, the joint project collapsed. While France was working on the ACX, it considered it a waste of resources and time to invest in a similar aircraft in a joint project. Another reason was to protect French Snecma's aircraft engine technology and not share it with others. 

While the French continued with the Dassault ACX, the aircraft made its first flight on July 4, 1986, one month before its European competitor. This situation summarized the extent of the rivalry between the two aircraft. Rafale, named after the strong wind, which we can translate into Turkish as "Bora", was planned to be operational in 1996, but due to delays, it was able to enter service in 2001.

What is the biggest difference in the design philosophy of Typhoon and Rafale?

"It is not surprising that both aircraft have relatively similar design philosophies compared to their global competitors, with common design foresight during the initial development and requirements definition work, before France walked away from what became the Eurofighter consortium to develop the Rafale. The major source of the differences stems from the French requirement that the basic airframe design be suitable for CATOBAR (carrier-based catapult system) carrier operations. This requirement is that the Rafale should be able to hold at a relatively high alpha angle and low speed, especially when external loads are still loaded on the aircraft, and that it should have the structural strength to withstand a sudden and hard stop by hooking onto the stop barrier on the carrier. In other words, while the French needed an aircraft that could take off and land on an aircraft carrier, the other partners did not have such an objective.

In addition, Rafale was also designed from the outset as a nuclear munitions carrier platform, which was not a key requirement for the Eurofighter countries.

In terms of design philosophy influences on the final aircraft, Rafale placed more emphasis on the need to carry payloads even at very low speeds and exceptional air-holding, while Typhoon was more focused by design on maximum performance at high altitude and agility/maneuverability at transonic and supersonic speeds. However, as both aircraft perform very similarly in most scenarios compared to other types, this is all relative and will vary according to the conditions in the air and the skills and experience of the pilots flying the aircraft.

To summarize, the Rafale is a fighter-bomber jet fighter, but with an emphasis on bombing capability. The Typhoon is also a fighter-bomber jet fighter, but with a predominantly hunting capability.

Comparing the performance characteristics of Typhoon and Rafale:

Typhoon's aerodynamic structure is designed to give the aircraft the highest maneuverability at supersonic speeds. Typhoon and Rafale are designed to be aerodynamically "unstable". This feature started with the F-16 and the CG (Center of Gravity) points of aircraft with this feature are designed to keep the aircraft unstable nose up. Assuming that we try to keep such airplanes in the horizontal position in the X plane in the air, the airplanes will not be able to stand straight, their tail parts will fall down on the z-axis, while their noses will rise upwards. This feature is of a higher characteristic in the Typhoon due to the effect of its canards and gives the Typhoon a high maneuverability, however; unstable aircraft definitely need a wired & computerized flight control system (fly by wire system) in order to fly stably. 

Also, whereas the Typhoon's canards are connected to the flight control system to improve the aircraft's maneuverability at high speeds, the Rafale's canards provide the aircraft with more lift and superior maneuverability to help prevent stalling. In addition, the Rafale's low nose angle gives the pilot better visibility during dogfights, landings and take-offs. 

Just as the Typhoon is good at high speeds and altitudes, the Rafale, like many carrier-capable aircraft, is better at low speeds and altitudes. It can perform higher alpha maneuvers. In addition to the Rafale's better maneuvering performance at sea level and low speeds than the Typhoon, its performance at high altitudes also surprises French pilots. A Rafale pilot with Typhoon experience claimed that below 10,000 ft, the Rafale would beat the Typhoon in aerial maneuvers. Despite having the most powerful machine gun in A2A (Air to Air) missions with 30mm (Typhoon 27mm), Rafale's lack of helmet integrated vision system is a major disadvantage in air combat.

The systems that contribute the most to A2A missions are optical systems and radar. Radar capabilities are a difficult topic to discuss on open sources as they are classified information of the producer countries. Rafale OST optical systems scan with infrared rays and camera with a narrow field of view. The disadvantage of these systems is that you have to look for enemy targets where you expect them to be and their performance decreases in bad weather conditions. The biggest advantage is the ability to make stealth aircraft such as the F-22 and F-35 visible at close distances.

Eurofighter and Rafale - Kinematic Analysis (the study of the aircraft's motion in the air, trajectory, velocity and acceleration)

Typhoon and Rafale are delta-winged, twin-engine jets with swept-wing rear canards, with an aerodynamically unstable design that gives them excellent maneuverability.

The Typhoon is powered by two Eurojet-200 engines with afterburner and supercruise capability, while the Rafale is powered by two Safran M-88 engines with afterburner and supercruise capability.

The Typhoon is available in single-seat and two-seat variants. With an empty weight of 11,000 kg, the fighter can take off with a maximum weight of 23,500 kg.

Typhoon's two EJ200 engines produce a combined thrust of approximately 18,143 kg and the aircraft reaches a top speed of 2,494 km. 

Typhoon has a cruising range of 3781 km and can fight within a radius of 1388 km. It can climb at 343 feet per second and reach a maximum altitude of 65,000 feet. In addition to a 27 mm in-fuselage gun, the fighter can carry an ammunition/weapon load at 13 external points.

Around 580 Typhoons have been produced; it is the main combat aircraft of the British, German, Italian and Spanish Air Forces. It is also used by the Air Forces of Austria, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar.

On the other hand, the Rafale was first launched in 2001. Around 325 Rafales have been produced; it is the main combat aircraft of the French Air Force. It has been selected for purchase by Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.

Available in both single and double seat variants, the aircraft has an empty weight of 10,600 kg and a maximum weight of 24,499 kg.

The Rafale's two M-88 turbofan engines produce a total thrust of 15,422 kg, the aircraft reaches a top speed of 2222 km/h.

With a cruising range of 3,701 km, the Rafale has an operational radius of 1,852 km. The Rafale has a climb rate of 3,000 ft per second and can reach a maximum altitude of 50,000 ft. It has 14 fuselage and under-wing fixed ammunition and pod carrying points and a 30 mm autocannon in the fuselage.

Typhoon has an instantaneous turn rate of 30 degrees and a continuous turn rate of 23 degrees, while Rafale has an instantaneous turn rate of 30 degrees and a continuous turn rate of 24 degrees.

Both fighters are capable of recovering energy quickly, thanks to their faster climb characteristics. The Rafale's close-coupled canards increase maximum lift and drag, while its 48-degree wing sweep gives it a better lift-to-drag ratio compared to the Eurofighter's 52-degree sweep.

However, the Typhoon's swept wing with a higher back arrow angle results in less drag during cruise flights. Rafale's close-coupled canards give it better turn recovery capability.

Rafale has better supersonic maneuverability and post-stall maneuverability. In terms of Angle of Attack (AoA), Rafale can achieve an AoA angle of attack of 100 to 110 degrees, while Typhoon is limited to 70 degrees.

However, the Typhoon's Leading Edge Root Extensions (LERX) and ridges along the fuselage give it an AoA of 100 degrees.

On the LERX, the roots of the delta wings meet the main fuselage of the aircraft, just above the chin inlet. The LERX is part of the Aerodynamic Modification Kit (KIT) on the Typhoon.

The latest Tranche 4 variants of Typhoon feature the Captor-E Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, steerable in both air-to-air and air-to-surface modes. Both Rafale and Typhoon carry the beyond-visual-range (beyond-visual-range) Meteor missile with a range exceeding 100 km and possibly reaching 150 km.

Both fighters are highly capable and the pride of their respective air forces. The outcome of a visual-range dogfight between the Rafale and the Eurofighter, which are very similar in configuration and arsenal, will depend more than anything else on the skill of the pilot on the day.

Both aircraft are equipped with AESA radar, an essential radar system for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

Comparison of Radar Systems

The following comparisons will be between the latest F2R Standard Rafale with RBE3 AESA radar and a Typhoon FGR.3 in service with CAPTOR-M in the UK. The Typhoons flying in Kuwait fly with the 'Radar 0' version of the more advanced CAPTOR-E AESA. The Captor-E radar provides significantly more power than most competing systems. Combined with the fighter's large nose opening and unique ability to move the radar antenna, the Typhoon has a 200-degree field of view, which will bring distinctive advantages.

Air-to-air combat over long distances

RBE2 is advantageous against targets with low radar cross-section due to the higher performance of AESA types against these threats. CAPTOR-M has an advantage against larger targets, such as bombers or MiG-31 'Foxhounds', due to a much larger aperture, longer range and generally higher target locking during air-to-air engagements.

Air-to-air engagements at short ranges and why?

RBE2, thanks to much faster AESA scanning, acquisition and classification of target capabilities, greater resistance to dropped contacts during maneuvers, as well as excellent information display for pilots in the F3R cockpit. (RBE2 is likely to surpass Radar 0 in IOC due to the more mature system and HMI).

Air-to-ground missions

As a multifunctional AESA radar, RBE2 provides much more air-to-ground functionality than CAPTOR-M (Radar 0 is optimized for air-to-air missions and is unlikely to challenge RBE2 in this arena).

Surface attack missions

Rafale with RBE2 again has the advantage due to the advantages of the AESA array and a more mature maritime attack mode with Exocet integrated. The Typhoon has options for ship-attack munitions, but none of the current operators use them.

Which aircraft has the superior infrared search and tracking system and why? 

The Typhoon with the PIRATE system is significantly ahead of the older Rafale IRST. The latter has been deleted from the latest F4R standard aircraft pending an updated capability on F3 standard jets, leaving only a laser rangefinder/EO cannon. The PIRATE is a truly exceptional IRST.

Cockpit layout/human-machine interface

Both aircraft have similar cockpit layouts in most respects, with three large main multifunction color displays, which in the latest versions can be significantly customized to suit individual pilot preferences. Both are significantly tidier and more ergonomic in terms of switches and clutter than previous generation aircraft. 

Conclusion:

The French Rafale and the British, German, Italian, Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon are jet fighters with fighter and bomber roles that emerged from common basic design requirements. Both aircraft have 4++ generation characteristics. 

Among its fighter/bomber capabilities, Rafale emphasizes its bombardment capability, but can also perform interceptor missions very well.

Eurofighter Typhoon, among its fighter/bomber capabilities, emphasizes its interceptor capability, but also performs very good bombing missions.

The basic characteristics of both aircraft are so close to each other that their superiority over each other in either hunting or bombing missions will be determined by the knowledge, skills and experience of the pilots operating them.