How China's exercise with Egypt made the IAF better suited to take on the dragon
The Indian Air Force may have gained valuable intelligence on Chinese J-16 fighter capabilities after those jets participated in a joint exercise with Egypt. Because the Egyptian Air Force operates Rafale jets similar to India's, the exercise allowed the Rafale's sensor systems to record and analyze the J-16's radar signatures.
Why it matters
This provides a strategic advantage to India by allowing its military to better understand and counter the electronic warfare capabilities of a primary regional rival.
When China sent its J-16 'Hidden Dragon' fighters to Egypt for Exercise Eagles of Civilisation, the headline takeaway was straightforward, Beijing's pilots finally got a close look at the Rafale, the same jet that forms the backbone of India's own fighter fleet. But a closer look at what actually happened suggests the exercise may have done India's air force more favours than China's.The Indian Air Force currently operates 36 Rafales, with 114 more in the pipeline, and until a fifth-generation stealth fighter enters service, this 4.5-generation aircraft remains India's most potent platform. What sets the Rafale apart, beyond stealth shaping it lacks, is its advanced sensor fusion, network centricity and supercruise capability, features that put it firmly in fifth-generation territory in most respects but one.
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